2023 Best Value Engineering Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Engineering School for You
With 198,468 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, engineering is the #7 most popular major in the United States.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Engineering Schools ranking. This report analyzed 330 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value programs for engineering students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Engineering
Our 2023 rankings named Brigham Young University - Idaho the best value school in the United States for engineering students. Located in the town of Rexburg, BYU - I is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at BYU - I are $4,416 a year. The average amount in student loans that engineering majors at BYU - I take out is $14,724.
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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez is a great value for engineering students. Located in the city of Mayaguez, UPR Mayaguez is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UPR Mayaguez are $4,840 a year. After completing their degree, engineering graduates from UPR Mayaguez carry an average student debtload of $8,483.
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Out of the 330 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Provo landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the midsize city of Provo, BYU is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BYU are $6,120 per year. While working on their degree, engineering majors at BYU accumulate an average of around $12,730 in student debt.
In addition to its great value ranking, BYU is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Engineering Schools list.
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The excellent programs at Austin Community College District helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best engineering schools in the United States. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Austin Community College District are $10,590 a year. After completing their degree, engineering graduates from Austin Community College District carry an average student debtload of $14,500.
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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide is a great value for engineering students. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry-Riddle Worldwide is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Embry-Riddle Worldwide are $10,748 per year. The average amount in student loans that engineering majors at Embry-Riddle Worldwide take out is $27,000. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $841, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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National University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value engineering programs. National University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of La Jolla.
National University undergraduate students pay an average of $13,320 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that engineering majors at National University take out is $35,500.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, National University also is in the top 15% of our Best Engineering Schools ranking.
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Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for engineering students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the midsize city of Scottsdale, ASU - Skysong is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ASU - Skysong are $13,092 per year. After completing their degree, engineering graduates from ASU - Skysong carry an average student debtload of $25,729. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $226, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
ASU - Skysong also claimed a spot on our Best Engineering Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
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West Texas A&M University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value engineering programs. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A&M University is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
West Texas A&M University undergraduate students pay an average of $11,208 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, engineering graduates from West Texas A&M University carry an average student debtload of $19,042.
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With a ranking of #9, University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well on this year’s best value schools for engineering students. UW - Stout is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Menomonie.
UW - Stout undergraduate students pay an average of $17,820 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, engineering graduates from UW - Stout carry an average student debtload of $27,977.
In addition to its great value ranking, UW - Stout is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Engineering Schools list.
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University of Akron Main Campus ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools list. Located in the medium-sized city of Akron, University of Akron Main Campus is a public school with a large student population.
University of Akron Main Campus undergraduate students pay an average of $11,880 in tuition and fees each year. On average, engineering graduates from University of Akron Main Campus take out $22,710 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $228.
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North Dakota State University - Main Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools ranking. North Dakota State University is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of Fargo.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at North Dakota State University are $14,876 a year. On average, engineering graduates from North Dakota State University take out $24,395 in student loans while working on their degree.
North Dakota State University also claimed a spot on our Best Engineering Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
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South Dakota State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for engineering students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at South Dakota State are $12,809 per year. While working on their degree, engineering majors at South Dakota State accumulate an average of around $27,688 in student debt.
South Dakota State excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Engineering Schools list.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools list. SIUE is a large public school located in the large suburb of Edwardsville.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at SIUE are $11,496 a year. Engineering majors at SIUE take out an average of $23,094 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $270.
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Youngstown State University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value engineering programs. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a public school with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Youngstown State University are $9,732 a year. After completing their degree, engineering graduates from Youngstown State University carry an average student debtload of $25,104.
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University of Wisconsin - Platteville landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value engineering programs. Located in the distant town of Platteville, UW - Platteville is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
UW - Platteville undergraduate students pay an average of $16,483 in tuition and fees each year. On average, engineering graduates from UW - Platteville take out $24,801 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $180.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - Platteville also is in the top 10% of our Best Engineering Schools ranking.
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Central Michigan University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for engineering students. It came in at #16 on the list. Central Michigan is a fairly large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Central Michigan are $13,094 a year. While working on their degree, engineering majors at Central Michigan accumulate an average of around $29,000 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $274, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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University of North Dakota ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools list. Located in the small city of Grand Forks, UND is a public school with a fairly large student population.
UND undergraduate students pay an average of $15,037 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that engineering majors at UND take out is $26,549.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UND also did well on our Best Engineering Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Lake Superior State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for engineering students. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the remote town of Sault Ste Marie, Lake Superior State University is a public college with a small student population.
Lake Superior State University undergraduate students pay an average of $13,200 in tuition and fees each year.
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With a ranking of #19, Massachusetts Maritime Academy did quite well on this year’s best value schools for engineering students. Maritime is a small public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Buzzards Bay.
Maritime undergraduate students pay an average of $25,104 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, engineering graduates from Maritime carry an average student debtload of $27,000.
In addition to its great value ranking, Maritime is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Engineering Schools list.
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With a ranking of #20, Northern Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for engineering students. NIU is a large public school located in the small suburb of Dekalb.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at NIU are $14,738 a year. On average, engineering graduates from NIU take out $26,089 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $192.
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Grand Valley State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for engineering students. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Allendale, GVSU is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at GVSU are $19,628 per year. The average amount in student loans that engineering majors at GVSU take out is $25,717.
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With a ranking of #22, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania did quite well on this year’s best value schools for engineering students. Ship is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Shippensburg.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Ship are $14,122 a year. The average amount in student loans that engineering majors at Ship take out is $27,000.
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San Jose State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools ranking. Located in the large city of San Jose, San Jose State is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at San Jose State are $19,732 per year.
San Jose State excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Engineering Schools list.
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Louisiana Tech University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for engineering students. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in the distant town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech is a public college with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Louisiana Tech are $16,806 a year. Engineering majors at Louisiana Tech take out an average of $25,435 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $191.
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Baker College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value engineering programs. Baker College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Owosso.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Baker College are $12,420 per year. On average, engineering graduates from Baker College take out $25,970 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Engineering Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | University of Dayton | Dayton, OH |
| 51 | Minnesota State University - Mankato | Mankato, MN |
| 52 | Lawrence Technological University | Southfield, MI |
| 52 | Montana Technological University | Butte, MT |
| 54 | Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus | Atlanta, GA |
| 55 | University of South Florida - Main Campus | Tampa, FL |
| 55 | The College of New Jersey | Ewing, NJ |
| 57 | Arkansas State University - Main Campus | Jonesboro, AR |
| 58 | California State University - Long Beach | Long Beach, CA |
| 59 | Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, GA |
| 59 | Oakland University | Rochester Hills, MI |
| 61 | Florida International University | Miami, FL |
| 61 | McNeese State University | Lake Charles, LA |
| 61 | Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA |
| 61 | California State University - Sacramento | Sacramento, CA |
| 65 | University of Memphis | Memphis, TN |
| 66 | Ohio University - Athens Campus | Athens, OH |
| 66 | University of Florida | Gainesville, FL |
Engineering by Region
View the Best Value Engineering Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Engineering Rankings
Engineering Related Majors for Engineering
Engineering Majors to Study
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Computer & Information Sciences | 254,454 |
| Biological & Biomedical Sciences | 177,778 |
| Engineering Technologies | 85,188 |
| Mathematics & Statistics | 52,396 |
| Physical Sciences | 50,306 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Petty Officer 3rd Class Declan Barnes.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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