2026 Best Value Polymer And Plastics Engineering Schools
Looking for the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering programs programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 20 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor reviewed 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 20 Best-Value Polymer And Plastics Engineering Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Our analysis found University Of Wisconsin Stout to be the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering school in the United States. Based in Menomonie, WI, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,701, while out-of-state students pay about $19,265. University Of Wisconsin Stout Polymer And Plastics Engineering students take on a median of $23,850 in debt. University Of Wisconsin Stout alumni report median earnings of $58,084 a decade after entry. Set against $23,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Stout has an acceptance rate of 88%. See the full University Of Wisconsin Stout profile
University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #2 on this year's best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering ranking in the United States. Set in Akron, OH, University Of Akron Main Campus is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. University Of Akron Main Campus Polymer And Plastics Engineering students take on a median of $25,347 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $46,600. That is a strong return on a $25,347 median debt. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants. See the full University Of Akron Main Campus profile
A rank of #3 makes Lehigh University one of the best values in the United States. Set in Bethlehem, PA, Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,980 in tuition and fees. Typical Polymer And Plastics Engineering student debt is $23,008. Graduates go on to earn a median of $105,584 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 26% of those who apply are admitted. More on Lehigh University
You'll get strong value at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, which ranked #4 this year. Based in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $81,698. Set against $23,393 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%. Read more about Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
You'll get strong value at Auburn University, which ranked #5 this year. This public school is set in Auburn, AL. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Graduates carry a median of $22,803 in student loans. Auburn University alumni report median earnings of $65,337 a decade after entry. Set against $22,803 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants. Read the full report on Auburn University
University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Lowell, MA, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Typical Polymer And Plastics Engineering student debt is $27,000. Median earnings reach $64,874 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Lowell admits about 83% of applicants. Read more about University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Western Washington University placed #7 among the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools in the United States. Western Washington University is a public school based in Bellingham, WA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,582, with out-of-state students paying around $28,707. Typical Polymer And Plastics Engineering student debt is $21,656. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $62,569. Set against $21,656 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Washington University has an acceptance rate of 93%. Get the full Western Washington University report
Case Western Reserve University offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Cleveland, OH, Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. Graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. Case Western Reserve University alumni report median earnings of $87,989 a decade after entry. Set against $25,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Case Western Reserve University
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools. This public school is set in Amherst, MA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. The median Polymer And Plastics Engineering program debt is $25,234. Graduates go on to earn a median of $71,631 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 60% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Amherst
University Of Rhode Island placed #10 among the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools in the United States. More on University Of Rhode Island
Stevens Institute Of Technology came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. More on Stevens Institute Of Technology
New Jersey Institute Of Technology placed #12 among the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on New Jersey Institute Of Technology
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College report
University Of Southern Mississippi landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Southern Mississippi
Pennsylvania College Of Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. More on Pennsylvania College Of Technology
Central Oregon Community College came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. See the full Central Oregon Community College profile
Wayne State University placed #17 among the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Wayne State University
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Greater Allegheny ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools. See the full Pennsylvania State University Penn State Greater Allegheny profile
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools. Get the full University Of Michigan Ann Arbor report
Best Value Polymer And Plastics Engineering Schools by Degree Level
Compare value rankings by degree level:
- Best Value Polymer And Plastics Engineering Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Polymer And Plastics Engineering Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Polymer And Plastics Engineering Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Polymer And Plastics Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Polymer And Plastics Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Polymer And Plastics Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Polymer And Plastics Engineering 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 20 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).