2027 Best Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region
Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 46 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for engineering students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Engineering in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall engineering education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Engineering
Leading the list is Washington University In St Louis, our #1 school for engineering. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 715 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $96,890. Students borrow a median of $19,688 to complete this degree.
Read more about the engineering program at Washington University In St Louis
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in engineering, ranking #2. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 1,192 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $76,501. Students borrow a median of $22,324 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in engineering from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
A rank of #3 makes Northwestern College Minnesota one of the top schools for engineering. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern College Minnesota graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern College Minnesota in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of Northwestern College Minnesota earn a median of $68,516 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,505 to complete this degree.
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Iowa State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Iowa State University graduates 75% of students within six years. About 1,420 engineering degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $80,285 early in their careers. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $24,874 in student loans.
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A rank of #5 makes Doane College Crete one of the top schools for engineering. Set in the town of Crete, Doane College Crete is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Doane College Crete graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Doane College Crete in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Doane College Crete generally make around $53,500. Typical student debt for the program is $28,802.
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Cornell College came in at #6 for engineering this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Mount Vernon. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cornell College awarded about 16 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Cornell College earn around $35,545 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the engineering program at Cornell College
Bethel University Minnesota earned the #7 position for engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Bethel University Minnesota graduates 71% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Bethel University Minnesota in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of $61,465 early in their careers. Bethel University Minnesota graduates carry a median of $25,639 in student loans.
See the full engineering program report for Bethel University Minnesota
Missouri University Of Science And Technology placed #8 among the best engineering schools. Located in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public university. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 1,211 engineering degrees were awarded at Missouri University Of Science And Technology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Missouri University Of Science And Technology generally make around $78,158. Typical student debt for the program is $25,808.
More information about a degree in engineering from Missouri University Of Science And Technology
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #9 spot for engineering this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 500 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $72,219 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,390 to complete this degree.
Read more about the engineering program at University Of Missouri Columbia
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City came in at #10 for engineering this year. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City awarded about 14 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn around $46,660 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,281.
Read more about the engineering program at Metropolitan Community College Kansas City
Loras College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. Set in the city of Dubuque, Loras College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 23 engineering degrees were awarded at Loras College in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $43,117 in their early career. Loras College graduates carry a median of $26,528 in student loans.
More information about a degree in engineering from Loras College
University Of Kansas placed #12 among the best engineering schools. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. University Of Kansas graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 567 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from University Of Kansas earn around $75,178 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $24,110 in student loans.
Read more about the engineering program at University Of Kansas
University Of Central Missouri placed #13 among the best engineering schools. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 48 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Missouri in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $45,496 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,304.
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University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #14 for engineering this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 587 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $76,503. Students borrow a median of $23,465 to complete this degree.
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Benedictine College earned the #15 position for engineering this year. Set in the town of Atchison, Benedictine College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. Benedictine College awarded about 37 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Benedictine College generally make around $71,539. Students borrow a median of $24,990 to complete this degree.
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University Of Minnesota Crookston earned the #16 position for engineering this year. Located in the town of Crookston, University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public university. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Crookston in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $48,840 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,661 to complete this degree.
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University Of Iowa landed the #17 spot for engineering this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 456 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $73,027 in their early career. University Of Iowa graduates carry a median of $25,171 in student loans.
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Des Moines Area Community College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Ankeny. Des Moines Area Community College awarded about 22 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Des Moines Area Community College earn around $43,121 in the first couple years of their career. Des Moines Area Community College graduates carry a median of $14,956 in student loans.
Read more about the engineering program at Des Moines Area Community College
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #19 for engineering this year. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 187 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $69,941. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Kansas State University placed #20 among the best engineering schools. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. Kansas State University graduates 71% of students within six years. About 463 engineering degrees were awarded at Kansas State University in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $73,220 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,859 to complete this degree.
Read more about the engineering program at Kansas State University
Wartburg College landed the #21 spot for engineering this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Waverly. About 64% of students finish within six years. Wartburg College awarded about 22 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Wartburg College generally make around $46,918. Students borrow a median of $26,793 to complete this degree.
See the full engineering program report for Wartburg College
St Charles Community College landed the #22 spot for engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Cottleville, St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 21 engineering degrees were awarded at St Charles Community College in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of St Charles Community College earn a median of $47,228 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,606 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in engineering from St Charles Community College
University Of North Dakota placed #23 among the best engineering schools. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Dakota awarded about 313 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from University Of North Dakota earn around $74,436 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,764.
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College Of The Ozarks ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. Set in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 14 engineering degrees were awarded at College Of The Ozarks in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from College Of The Ozarks earn around $37,944 in the first couple years of their career.
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Fort Hays State University earned the #25 position for engineering this year. Fort Hays State University is a large public school located in the town of Hays. Fort Hays State University graduates 46% of students within six years. Fort Hays State University awarded about 10 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $49,775 in their early career. Fort Hays State University graduates carry a median of $25,967 in student loans.
More information about a degree in engineering from Fort Hays State University
Rest of the Top 46 Engineering Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong engineering education:
Narrow Engineering Schools by State
More Engineering Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 46 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
