2026 Best Value Engineering Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Engineering Science bachelor’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 100 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Engineering Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo this year in the United States. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public school based in San Luis Obispo, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,161, with out-of-state students paying around $33,230. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Engineering Science students take on a median of $19,273 in debt. Median earnings reach $90,768 ten years out. Set against $19,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 31% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The College Of New Jersey earned it the #2 place in the United States. Based in Ewing, NJ, The College Of New Jersey is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $19,632, while out-of-state students pay about $25,752. Typical Engineering Science student debt is $24,429. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $73,323. That is a strong return on a $24,429 median debt. The College Of New Jersey admits about 62% of applicants. Read the full report on The College Of New Jersey
Out of the 100 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Dartmouth College landed the #3 spot. Set in Hanover, NH, Dartmouth College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,019. Students borrow a median of $17,083 to complete their Engineering Science program here. Dartmouth College alumni report median earnings of $97,434 a decade after entry. Set against $17,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%. More on Dartmouth College
Out of the 100 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Wright State University Main Campus landed the #4 spot. Set in Dayton, OH, Wright State University Main Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,991, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. Typical Engineering Science student debt is $25,836. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,500. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Wright State University Main Campus report
Out of the 100 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of California Berkeley landed the #5 spot. This public school is set in Berkeley, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete their Engineering Science program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $92,446. Set against $14,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants. Read the full report on University Of California Berkeley
Harvard University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. Harvard University is a private not-for-profit school based in Cambridge, MA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Harvard University Engineering Science students take on a median of $16,616 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $101,817. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. About 4% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Harvard University report
Arizona State University offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Arizona State University Engineering Science students take on a median of $13,250 in debt. Arizona State University alumni report median earnings of $62,668 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants. Read more about Arizona State University
Vanderbilt University landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Nashville, TN, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete their Engineering Science program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $91,565. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants. Get the full Vanderbilt University report
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Set in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,929, while out-of-state students pay about $37,441. Typical Engineering Science student debt is $24,250. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $74,479. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%. Read the full report on Rutgers University New Brunswick
Dordt College placed #10 among the best-value Engineering Science schools in the United States. Dordt College is a private not-for-profit school based in Sioux Center, IA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,050. Dordt College Engineering Science students take on a median of $21,812 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,559 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,812 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Dordt College report
Colorado State University Fort Collins ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. This public school is set in Fort Collins, CO. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Typical Engineering Science student debt is $22,843. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $60,543. Set against $22,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 88% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Colorado State University Fort Collins
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. Located in Albuquerque, NM, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,140, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. The median Engineering Science program debt is $19,738. Median earnings reach $44,792 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of New Mexico Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 95%. See the full University Of New Mexico Main Campus profile
University Of California San Diego offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. University Of California San Diego is a public school based in La Jolla, CA. In-state tuition and fees average $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. University Of California San Diego Engineering Science students take on a median of $17,101 in debt. University Of California San Diego alumni report median earnings of $84,943 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted. More on University Of California San Diego
University Of Rochester offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Rochester, NY, University Of Rochester is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,080. Graduates carry a median of $21,517 in student loans. University Of Rochester alumni report median earnings of $79,042 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,517 median debt. University Of Rochester admits about 40% of applicants. More on University Of Rochester
California State University Bakersfield offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Based in Bakersfield, CA, California State University Bakersfield is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,087 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,687 for out-of-state students. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $59,009. California State University Bakersfield admits about 94% of applicants. Read more about California State University Bakersfield
Smith College landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,178. Smith College Engineering Science students take on a median of $18,941 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,027 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Smith College admits about 21% of applicants. See the full Smith College profile
Wartburg College landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Waverly, IA, Wartburg College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $26,250 in tuition and fees. Typical Engineering Science student debt is $26,793. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $56,201. Set against $26,793 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 76% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Wartburg College
Hofstra University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. Located in Hempstead, NY, Hofstra University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $57,660 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Engineering Science program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $69,039 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Hofstra University report
Benedictine University placed #19 among the best-value Engineering Science schools in the United States. Read more about Benedictine University
Capital Community College placed #20 among the best-value Engineering Science schools in the United States. More on Capital Community College
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read more about University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Hudson County Community College came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Hudson County Community College report
Washington State University came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Washington State University report
Goucher College
Goucher College landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Goucher College report
Miami University Oxford came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. See the full Miami University Oxford profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Engineering Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Washington And Lee University offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Read the full report on Washington And Lee University
Carthage College
Carthage College landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Carthage College
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. See the full The University Of Texas At Austin profile
Morehouse College offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Read the full report on Morehouse College
Yale University
Yale University ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. See the full Yale University profile
University Of Colorado Denver came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Colorado Denver
Mercer County Community College placed #32 among the best-value Engineering Science schools in the United States. Read more about Mercer County Community College
Metropolitan Community College Area landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Metropolitan Community College Area
Sonoma State University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. Read more about Sonoma State University
Houston Community College placed #35 among the best-value Engineering Science schools in the United States. Get the full Houston Community College report
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. Get the full Ohio University Main Campus report
Vincennes University offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Read the full report on Vincennes University
Sweet Briar College came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Sweet Briar College
Clarkson University ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. Read more about Clarkson University
Arizona State University Skysong placed #40 among the best-value Engineering Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Arizona State University Skysong
Shepherd University placed #41 among the best-value Engineering Science schools in the United States. Get the full Shepherd University report
University Of Toledo ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. Read the full report on University Of Toledo
North Idaho College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. Read the full report on North Idaho College
Middlesex County College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. Read the full report on Middlesex County College
Alma College
Alma College placed #45 among the best-value Engineering Science schools in the United States. See the full Alma College profile
University Of Notre Dame came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Notre Dame
Providence College placed #47 among the best-value Engineering Science schools in the United States. Get the full Providence College report
University Of Mississippi Main Campus placed #48 among the best-value Engineering Science schools in the United States. More on University Of Mississippi Main Campus
University Of Pittsburgh Bradford landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Pittsburgh Bradford profile
Nassau Community College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. Read the full report on Nassau Community College
Related Engineering Science Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Engineering Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Engineering Science Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Engineering Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Engineering Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Engineering Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Engineering Science Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Engineering Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 100 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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