2026 Best Value Polymer And Plastics Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering master’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 20 institutions 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 compile 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 Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat University Of Akron Main Campus this year in the United States. University Of Akron Main Campus is a public school based in Akron, OH. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. University Of Akron Main Campus Polymer And Plastics Engineering students take on a median of $25,347 in debt. University Of Akron Main Campus alumni report median earnings of $46,600 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%. More on University Of Akron Main Campus
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lehigh University earned it the #2 place in the United States. Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bethlehem, PA. Students from in state pay about $64,980 in tuition and fees. Typical Polymer And Plastics Engineering student debt is $23,008. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $105,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 26% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Lehigh University
A rank of #3 makes Auburn University one of the best values in the United States. Set in Auburn, AL, Auburn University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. The median Polymer And Plastics Engineering program debt is $22,803. Ten years after enrolling, 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
You'll get strong value at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, which ranked #4 this year. Set in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. The median Polymer And Plastics Engineering program debt is $23,393. Median earnings reach $81,698 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University has an acceptance rate of 55%. More on Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Lowell earned it the #5 place in the United States. Set in Lowell, MA, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, with out-of-state students paying around $36,264. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Polymer And Plastics Engineering program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,874 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Lowell admits about 83% of applicants. More on University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Case Western Reserve University offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Set in Cleveland, OH, Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. The median Polymer And Plastics Engineering program debt is $25,106. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $87,989. That is a strong return on a $25,106 median debt. About 36% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Case Western Reserve University report
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools. Located in Amherst, MA, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Typical Polymer And Plastics Engineering student debt is $25,234. Median earnings reach $71,631 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $25,234 median debt. About 60% of those who apply are admitted. See the full University Of Massachusetts Amherst profile
Stevens Institute Of Technology ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools. Get the full Stevens Institute Of Technology report
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #9 among the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Madison
Central Oregon Community College placed #10 among the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Central Oregon Community College
New Jersey Institute Of Technology ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools. Get the full New Jersey Institute Of Technology report
Western Washington University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools. Get the full Western Washington University report
University Of Rhode Island offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Read more about University Of Rhode Island
Pennsylvania College Of Technology landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Pennsylvania College Of Technology
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Get the full Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College report
University Of Southern Mississippi landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Southern Mississippi profile
Wayne State University came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. See the full Wayne State University profile
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Greater Allegheny came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Pennsylvania State University Penn State Greater Allegheny report
University Of Wisconsin Stout ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Polymer And Plastics Engineering schools. More on University Of Wisconsin Stout
Related Polymer And Plastics Engineering Value Rankings
Explore 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 Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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).