2026 Best Value Engineering Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Engineering Science doctoral 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 produce 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Leading the list is Texas Tech University, our #1 best-value Engineering Science school in the United States. Texas Tech University is a public school based in Lubbock, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Texas Tech University Engineering Science students take on a median of $24,271 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,454 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 73% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Texas Tech University report
You'll get strong value at Ohio University Main Campus, which ranked #2 this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a public school based in Athens, OH. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Ohio University Main Campus Engineering Science students take on a median of $24,546 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,581 ten years after entry. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio University Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 85%. Read the full report on Ohio University Main Campus
Out of the 100 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of New Orleans landed the #3 spot. Based in New Orleans, LA, University Of New Orleans is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,172, compared with $14,008 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,048 in student loans. University Of New Orleans alumni report median earnings of $47,872 a decade after entry. Set against $23,048 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New Orleans has an acceptance rate of 74%. Read more about University Of New Orleans
Dartmouth College came in at #4 on this year's best-value Engineering Science ranking in the United States. Based in Hanover, NH, Dartmouth College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,019. The median Engineering Science program debt is $17,083. Dartmouth College alumni report median earnings of $97,434 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $17,083 median debt. Dartmouth College has an acceptance rate of 5%. More on Dartmouth College
You'll get strong value at Harvard University, which ranked #5 this year. Located in Cambridge, MA, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. The median Engineering Science program debt is $16,616. Graduates go on to earn a median of $101,817 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Harvard University
University Of California San Diego landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in La Jolla, CA, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. University Of California San Diego Engineering Science students take on a median of $17,101 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $84,943 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $17,101 median debt. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted. Read more about University Of California San Diego
University Of Colorado Denver ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. Located in Denver, CO, University Of Colorado Denver is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,383, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. The median Engineering Science program debt is $26,582. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,270 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants. Get the full University Of Colorado Denver report
University Of Toledo offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Toledo, OH, University Of Toledo is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,157, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. University Of Toledo Engineering Science students take on a median of $24,923 in debt. University Of Toledo alumni report median earnings of $50,632 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants. Get the full University Of Toledo report
University Of Mississippi Main Campus landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in University, MS, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,772 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,600. Graduates carry a median of $22,444 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,994 ten years after entry. Set against $22,444 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 97% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about University Of Mississippi Main Campus
Washington State University offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Pullman, WA, Washington State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,391, with out-of-state students paying around $29,950. Graduates carry a median of $21,903 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $68,905 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Washington State University has an acceptance rate of 87%. More on Washington State University
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Located in Baton Rouge, LA, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,954, while out-of-state students pay about $28,631. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College Engineering Science students take on a median of $21,348 in debt. Median earnings reach $61,251 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $21,348 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted. More on Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
Idaho State University came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Pocatello, ID. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,610, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Idaho State University Engineering Science students take on a median of $24,640 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,608 ten years after entry. Set against $24,640 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Idaho State University profile
California State University Bakersfield came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on California State University Bakersfield
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Coastal Carolina University landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Coastal Carolina University
Tennessee Wesleyan College landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Tennessee Wesleyan College report
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus profile
Houston Community College came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Houston Community College
Sonoma State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. More on Sonoma State University
Bethany Lutheran College placed #20 among the best-value Engineering Science schools in the United States. Get the full Bethany Lutheran College report
Washington And Lee University came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. More on Washington And Lee University
Sweet Briar College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. Read the full report on Sweet Briar College
Hudson County Community College landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Hudson County Community College
Arizona State University offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Read the full report on Arizona State University
University Of Kansas came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Kansas report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Engineering Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Carroll College
Carroll College offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Get the full Carroll College report
Passaic County Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. See the full Passaic County Community College profile
Vincennes University placed #28 among the best-value Engineering Science schools in the United States. Read more about Vincennes University
Alma College
Alma College landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Alma College report
Greenfield Community College landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Greenfield Community College
Morehouse College placed #31 among the best-value Engineering Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Morehouse College
Roanoke College
Roanoke College came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Roanoke College
University Of Rochester ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. Get the full University Of Rochester report
Montgomery County Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. Get the full Montgomery County Community College report
The College Of New Jersey ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. More on The College Of New Jersey
Clarkson University came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Clarkson University
Southern Methodist University ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. Read the full report on Southern Methodist University
Benedictine University came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. More on Benedictine University
Goucher College
Goucher College offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. See the full Goucher College profile
The University Of Texas At Austin offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. See the full The University Of Texas At Austin profile
University Of Pittsburgh Bradford landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Pittsburgh Bradford
The University Of Tennessee offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. More on The University Of Tennessee
University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of New Mexico Main Campus profile
Westminster College Utah placed #44 among the best-value Engineering Science schools in the United States. Get the full Westminster College Utah report
Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read the full report on Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania
Carthage College
Carthage College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. More on Carthage College
University Of California Berkeley landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of California Berkeley report
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Rutgers University New Brunswick
Dordt College
Dordt College landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Dordt College
Oregon State University ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Science schools. More on Oregon State University
Related Engineering Science Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at 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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Engineering Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Engineering Science Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced 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).