2026 Best Value Engineering Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Engineering associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 1312 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh 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 analyzed 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 25 Best-Value Engineering Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Wake Technical Community College earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Located in Raleigh, NC, Wake Technical Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,254, with out-of-state students paying around $6,862. The median Engineering program debt is $11,182. Wake Technical Community College alumni report median earnings of $41,769 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $11,182 median debt. Get the full Wake Technical Community College report
A rank of #2 makes Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology one of the best values in the United States. Set in Lancaster, PA, Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,050. Graduates carry a median of $9,750 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $54,681. That is a strong return on a $9,750 median debt. About 71% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology profile
Out of the 1312 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Austin Community College District landed the #3 spot. Located in Austin, TX, Austin Community College District is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,375 to complete their Engineering program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,177. That is a strong return on a $15,375 median debt. Get the full Austin Community College District report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide earned it the #4 place in the United States. Located in Daytona Beach, FL, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,097 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $26,995 in student loans. Median earnings reach $84,131 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $26,995 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted. See the full Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide profile
A rank of #5 makes Monroe Community College one of the best values in the United States. Based in Rochester, NY, Monroe Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,006, with out-of-state students paying around $11,056. Graduates carry a median of $9,185 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,174. That is a strong return on a $9,185 median debt. Read the full report on Monroe Community College
Rasmussen College North Dakota offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Based 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. Median earnings reach $39,080 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $23,635 median debt. Get the full Rasmussen College North Dakota report
Rasmussen College Florida placed #7 among the best-value Engineering schools in the United States. Based in Ocala, FL, Rasmussen College Florida is a private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,256. Rasmussen College Florida Engineering students take on a median of $23,635 in debt. Rasmussen College Florida alumni report median earnings of $39,080 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,635 median debt. Read more about Rasmussen College Florida
Portland Community College came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Based in Portland, OR, Portland Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,220, while out-of-state students pay about $10,440. Portland Community College Engineering students take on a median of $21,409 in debt. Median earnings reach $44,592 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Portland Community College
Rasmussen College Minnesota landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in St. Cloud, MN, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,199. Typical Engineering student debt is $23,635. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,080. That is a strong return on a $23,635 median debt. More on Rasmussen College Minnesota
University Of Wisconsin Platteville offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Platteville, WI, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,644, with out-of-state students paying around $17,603. Students borrow a median of $23,777 to complete their Engineering program here. Median earnings reach $61,760 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $23,777 median debt. About 89% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Platteville
Rasmussen College Wisconsin placed #11 among the best-value Engineering schools in the United States. This private for-profit school is set in Green Bay, WI. Students from in state pay about $16,345 in tuition and fees. Typical Engineering student debt is $23,635. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,080 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,635 median debt. Read more about Rasmussen College Wisconsin
Rasmussen College Illinois placed #12 among the best-value Engineering schools in the United States. Rasmussen College Illinois is a private for-profit school based in Rockford, IL. In-state tuition and fees average $16,581. Rasmussen College Illinois Engineering students take on a median of $23,635 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,080 ten years after entry. Set against $23,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Rasmussen College Illinois report
Lake Superior State University came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Located in Sault Ste Marie, MI, Lake Superior State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,890. Typical Engineering student debt is $26,901. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $49,045. That is a strong return on a $26,901 median debt. Read the full report on Lake Superior State University
Utah Valley University offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Utah Valley University is a public school based in Orem, UT. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Typical Engineering student debt is $14,563. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,486. That is a strong return on a $14,563 median debt. Read the full report on Utah Valley University
Weber State University placed #15 among the best-value Engineering schools in the United States. Set in Ogden, UT, Weber State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,557, while out-of-state students pay about $17,545. The median Engineering program debt is $23,354. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $56,287. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Weber State University
Cuny College Of Staten Island placed #16 among the best-value Engineering schools in the United States. Cuny College Of Staten Island is a public school based in Staten Island, NY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,490, compared with $15,440 for out-of-state students. Typical Engineering student debt is $14,688. Median earnings reach $53,501 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%. Read the full report on Cuny College Of Staten Island
Full Sail University came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Full Sail University is a private for-profit school based in Winter Park, FL. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,906. Typical Engineering student debt is $20,500. Full Sail University alumni report median earnings of $38,219 a decade after entry. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Full Sail University
Southern Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $29,893 ten years after entry. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Southern Technical College
Brookdale Community College landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Brookdale Community College report
Claflin University came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Claflin University
College Of The Canyons placed #21 among the best-value Engineering schools in the United States. See the full College Of The Canyons profile
Dallas Baptist University offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Read the full report on Dallas Baptist University
East Los Angeles College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering schools. Get the full East Los Angeles College report
East Mississippi Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Read the full report on East Mississippi Community College
Everett Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. Read more about Everett Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Engineering Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Long Beach City College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering schools. See the full Long Beach City College profile
Rio Hondo College landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Rio Hondo College profile
Skyline College
Skyline College placed #28 among the best-value Engineering schools in the United States. See the full Skyline College profile
Stone Child College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering schools. More on Stone Child College
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering schools. Read more about University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Community College Of Rhode Island came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. More on Community College Of Rhode Island
Devry University Texas landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Devry University Texas profile
Digipen Institute Of Technology ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering schools. Read the full report on Digipen Institute Of Technology
Electrical Training Center landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Electrical Training Center report
Florida International University landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Florida International University
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus
Inver Hills Community College ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering schools. More on Inver Hills Community College
Juniata College
Juniata College landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Juniata College profile
Reedley College
Reedley College placed #40 among the best-value Engineering schools in the United States. Read more about Reedley College
Southwestern Michigan College placed #41 among the best-value Engineering schools in the United States. More on Southwestern Michigan College
United States Military Academy landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. More on United States Military Academy
Chandler Gilbert Community College placed #43 among the best-value Engineering schools in the United States. More on Chandler Gilbert Community College
John Wood Community College came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. More on John Wood Community College
Kalamazoo Valley Community College came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Louisiana College offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. Get the full Louisiana College report
Owens Community College came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. More on Owens Community College
Palo Alto College landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Palo Alto College
Springfield Technical Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. Read more about Springfield Technical Community College
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Arkansas At Little Rock report
Related Engineering Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Engineering Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Engineering Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Engineering Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Engineering Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced 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 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.