2026 Best Engineering Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Engineering associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 1312 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor reviewed schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Engineering Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Our analysis found Wake Technical Community College to be the best Engineering school in the United States. Wake Technical Community College is a public school based in Raleigh, NC. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,254, while out-of-state students pay about $6,862. Graduates carry a median of $11,182 in student loans. Read more about Wake Technical Community College
Out of the 1312 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Austin Community College District landed the #2 spot. Located in Austin, TX, Austin Community College District is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Typical Engineering student debt is $15,375. See the full Austin Community College District profile
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide came in at #3 on this year's Engineering ranking in the United States. Based in Daytona Beach, FL, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a private not-for-profit institution. About 23% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,097. The median Engineering program debt is $26,995. Read more about Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin Platteville one of the top choices in the United States. University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a public school based in Platteville, WI. About 61% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,644, compared with $17,603 for out-of-state students. Typical Engineering student debt is $23,777. More on University Of Wisconsin Platteville
You'll be in good company at Monroe Community College, which ranked #5 this year. This public school is set in Rochester, NY. In-state tuition and fees average $6,006, with out-of-state students paying around $11,056. Typical Engineering student debt is $9,185. Get the full Monroe Community College report
Rasmussen College Florida placed #6 among Engineering schools in the United States. Rasmussen College Florida is a private for-profit school based in Ocala, FL. Students from in state pay about $16,256 in tuition and fees. Typical Engineering student debt is $23,635. Read the full report on Rasmussen College Florida
Rasmussen College North Dakota placed #7 among Engineering schools in the United States. Located in Fargo, ND, Rasmussen College North Dakota is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,404. Rasmussen College North Dakota Engineering students take on a median of $23,635 in debt. Read the full report on Rasmussen College North Dakota
Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Lancaster, PA, Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,050. Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology Engineering students take on a median of $9,750 in debt. See the full Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology profile
Rasmussen College Minnesota placed #9 among Engineering schools in the United States. Based in St. Cloud, MN, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,199 in tuition and fees. The median Engineering program debt is $23,635. See the full Rasmussen College Minnesota profile
Southern Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Engineering schools. Based in Orlando, FL, Southern Technical College is a private for-profit institution. Southern Technical College Engineering students take on a median of $20,000 in debt. Read more about Southern Technical College
Rasmussen College Illinois placed #11 among Engineering schools in the United States. Based in Rockford, IL, Rasmussen College Illinois is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,581. The median Engineering program debt is $23,635. See the full Rasmussen College Illinois profile
Rasmussen College Wisconsin came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Green Bay, WI, Rasmussen College Wisconsin is a private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,345 in tuition and fees. Typical Engineering student debt is $23,635. Read more about Rasmussen College Wisconsin
Lake Superior State University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in Sault Ste Marie, MI, Lake Superior State University is a public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,890. The median Engineering program debt is $26,901. See the full Lake Superior State University profile
Portland Community College did well this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Portland, OR, Portland Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,440 for out-of-state students. Typical Engineering student debt is $21,409. More on Portland Community College
Utah Valley University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Orem, UT, Utah Valley University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Students borrow a median of $14,563 to complete their Engineering program here. Read the full report on Utah Valley University
Weber State University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Ogden, UT. About 47% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,557, while out-of-state students pay about $17,545. Graduates carry a median of $23,354 in student loans. Read the full report on Weber State University
Full Sail University placed #17 among Engineering schools in the United States. This private for-profit school is set in Winter Park, FL. About 45% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $26,906. Typical Engineering student debt is $20,500. See the full Full Sail University profile
Cuny College Of Staten Island placed #18 among Engineering schools in the United States. Set in Staten Island, NY, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a public institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,490, with out-of-state students paying around $15,440. The median Engineering program debt is $14,688. Read the full report on Cuny College Of Staten Island
Benjamin Franklin Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #19 position. More on Benjamin Franklin Institute Of Technology
Kalamazoo Valley Community College landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. More on Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Nova Southeastern University landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. See the full Nova Southeastern University profile
Pace University New York landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Pace University New York report
Suny Maritime College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Engineering schools. See the full Suny Maritime College profile
Western Governors University landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. More on Western Governors University
Ellsworth Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Engineering schools. See the full Ellsworth Community College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Engineering Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Mchenry County College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Engineering schools. See the full Mchenry County College profile
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #27 among Engineering schools in the United States. Get the full Southern Illinois University Carbondale report
Union University
Union University landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Union University report
University Of Houston Clear Lake landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Houston Clear Lake profile
University Of Memphis ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Engineering schools. Read more about University Of Memphis
California State University Los Angeles ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Engineering schools. More on California State University Los Angeles
Christian Brothers University ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Engineering schools. Read the full report on Christian Brothers University
Community College Of Beaver County placed #33 among Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Community College Of Beaver County
Highline Community College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Engineering schools. Get the full Highline Community College report
Illinois College
Illinois College placed #35 among Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Illinois College
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #36 in this year's ranking. More on Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
San Diego City College came in at #38 in this year's ranking. More on San Diego City College
University Of Mobile ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Engineering schools. Get the full University Of Mobile report
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College placed #40 among Engineering schools in the United States. See the full J Sargeant Reynolds Community College profile
Saddleback College placed #41 among Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Saddleback College
University Of Evansville ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Engineering schools. Read the full report on University Of Evansville
Western Kentucky University landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Western Kentucky University report
Elizabethtown College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Engineering schools. More on Elizabethtown College
Metropolitan State College Of Denver landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. More on Metropolitan State College Of Denver
Nicholls State University placed #46 among Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Nicholls State University
Dunwoody College Of Technology ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Engineering schools. Read the full report on Dunwoody College Of Technology
Hesston College
Hesston College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Engineering schools. Get the full Hesston College report
Illinois Valley Community College placed #49 among Engineering schools in the United States. Get the full Illinois Valley Community College report
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore placed #50 among Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Maryland Eastern Shore
Related Engineering Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Engineering Schools (All Levels)
- Best Engineering Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Engineering Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Engineering Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1312 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).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.