2026 Best Value Polymer And Plastics Engineering Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 20 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.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated 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 20 Best-Value Polymer And Plastics Engineering Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat University Of Akron Main Campus this year in the United States. Set in Akron, OH, University Of Akron Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Students borrow a median of $25,347 to complete their Polymer And Plastics Engineering program here. Median earnings reach $46,600 ten years out. Set against $25,347 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 60% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about University Of Akron Main Campus
Out of the 20 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #2 spot. This public school is set in Blacksburg, VA. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. The median Polymer And Plastics Engineering program debt is $23,393. 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 the full report on Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Out of the 20 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Auburn University landed the #3 spot. This public school is set in Auburn, AL. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Typical Polymer And Plastics Engineering student debt is $22,803. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $65,337. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 46% of those who apply are admitted. More on Auburn University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Lowell earned it the #4 place in the United States. Based in Lowell, MA, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,966 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,264. University Of Massachusetts Lowell Polymer And Plastics Engineering students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Median earnings reach $64,874 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted. See the full University Of Massachusetts Lowell profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Case Western Reserve University earned it the #5 place in the United States. Based in Cleveland, OH, Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete their Polymer And Plastics Engineering program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $87,989. Set against $25,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted. More on Case Western Reserve University
University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #6 among the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools in the United States. Located in Amherst, MA, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. The median Polymer And Plastics Engineering program debt is $25,234. University Of Massachusetts Amherst alumni report median earnings of $71,631 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $25,234 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted. More on University Of Massachusetts Amherst
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Michigan Ann Arbor profile
Pennsylvania College Of Technology placed #8 among the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools in the United States. See the full Pennsylvania College Of Technology profile
New Jersey Institute Of Technology came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Read more about New Jersey Institute Of Technology
Wayne State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools. Read more about Wayne State University
Lehigh University came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. See the full Lehigh University profile
University Of Wisconsin Stout landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Wisconsin Stout profile
University Of Rhode Island came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Rhode Island profile
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Madison
Central Oregon Community College placed #15 among the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools in the United States. Get the full Central Oregon Community College report
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Greater Allegheny ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools. Read the full report on Pennsylvania State University Penn State Greater Allegheny
University Of Southern Mississippi offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. More on University Of Southern Mississippi
Stevens Institute Of Technology came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. See the full Stevens Institute Of Technology profile
Western Washington University offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Read more about Western Washington University
Related Polymer And Plastics Engineering Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Polymer And Plastics Engineering Schools (All Levels)
- 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
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled 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).