2026 Best Value Engineering Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Engineering undergraduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 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 arm you with the information you need, 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 Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Leading the list is University Of North Dakota, our #1 best-value Engineering school in the United States. Set in Grand Forks, ND, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,951, while out-of-state students pay about $15,570. University Of North Dakota Engineering students take on a median of $26,764 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,552. Set against $26,764 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted. See the full University Of North Dakota profile
Out of the 1312 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #2 spot. Located in Akron, OH, University Of Akron Main Campus is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Graduates carry a median of $23,484 in student loans. Median earnings reach $46,600 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 60% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Akron Main Campus
You'll get strong value at Miami University Oxford, which ranked #3 this year. Miami University Oxford is a public school based in Oxford, OH. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Typical Engineering student debt is $24,763. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,076 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,763 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%. Read the full report on Miami University Oxford
You'll get strong value at Boston University, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Boston, MA, Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Typical Engineering student debt is $26,748. Boston University alumni report median earnings of $83,238 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,748 median debt. About 11% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Boston University
Out of the 1312 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Blinn College landed the #5 spot. See the full Blinn College profile
College Of The Canyons placed #6 among the best-value Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on College Of The Canyons
Columbia College Missouri ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering schools. Read the full report on Columbia College Missouri
Devry University Illinois placed #8 among the best-value Engineering schools in the United States. Read more about Devry University Illinois
Lewis And Clark Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering schools. Read the full report on Lewis And Clark Community College
Louisiana College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering schools. Get the full Louisiana College report
Pennsylvania College Of Technology came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Pennsylvania College Of Technology
Robert Morris University landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Robert Morris University report
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus report
University Of Pennsylvania placed #14 among the best-value Engineering schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering schools. Read more about University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown
Case Western Reserve University came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. See the full Case Western Reserve University profile
Charleston Southern University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering schools. See the full Charleston Southern University profile
Iowa State University offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. More on Iowa State University
John A Logan College came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Read more about John A Logan College
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering schools. Get the full Massachusetts Institute Of Technology report
Medical College Of Wisconsin ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering schools. Get the full Medical College Of Wisconsin report
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology placed #22 among the best-value Engineering schools in the United States. More on New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology
Northeastern University Global Network placed #23 among the best-value Engineering schools in the United States. More on Northeastern University Global Network
Pitt Community College came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Pitt Community College
Spokane Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. Read more about Spokane Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Engineering Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Barton County Community College landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Barton County Community College profile
Cayuga County Community College placed #27 among the best-value Engineering schools in the United States. More on Cayuga County Community College
Lehigh University offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Read the full report on Lehigh University
Rasmussen College Florida landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Rasmussen College Florida report
Red Rocks Community College landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Red Rocks Community College report
Taft College
Taft College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering schools. More on Taft College
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. More on University Of Arkansas Fort Smith
University Of California San Diego landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of California San Diego
Zane State College offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. See the full Zane State College profile
American Public University System landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full American Public University System report
Atlantic Cape Community College landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Atlantic Cape Community College profile
Manchester College ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering schools. Read more about Manchester College
Marquette University landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Marquette University
New York Institute Of Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. See the full New York Institute Of Technology profile
Northern New Mexico College offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. See the full Northern New Mexico College profile
Norwich University came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. See the full Norwich University profile
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Great Valley came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Pennsylvania State University Penn State Great Valley
Sweet Briar College came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Sweet Briar College
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
University Of Wisconsin Stout ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering schools. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Stout
Austin Community College District landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Austin Community College District
Ohlone Community College came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Ohlone Community College
Stony Brook University landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Stony Brook University
William Jewell College placed #49 among the best-value Engineering schools in the United States. See the full William Jewell College profile
Bossier Parish Community College came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Bossier Parish Community College report
Related Engineering Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Engineering Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Engineering Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Engineering Associate’s 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. 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 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).
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