Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Schools are assigned a value from 1-100, where 100 is best for students from households earning up to $30,000. This value is multiplied by the percentage of the school’s student body that received a Pell Grant, to calculate the economic mobility score. A higher score is better. Read the full explanation
The percentage of a school’s student body that has received a Pell Grant.
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
The world is always in need of engineers to help usher us into the next phase of progress. Thinking of joining them? We’ve compiled the best engineering colleges for your bachelor’s degree – ranked by value for money. To learn how we rank schools, check out our methodology page.
Is an engineering bachelor’s degree worth it?
Getting an engineering bachelor’s degree is absolutely worth it.
According to educational data from College Scorecard and IPEDS, engineering bachelor’s holders make an average of $84,233 a year.
These earnings are not only 64% more than the national average, they also surpass the national average for master’s holders by 21%. Not bad for a bachelor’s degree!
Check out how an engineering bachelor’s degree compares to other degrees below.
Click on a degree card to reveal more information.
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
$26,959
PAYBACK
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
1.9
ECONOMIC SCORE
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The ranked programs in this article fall under the general “engineering” category, or CIP code 14 in the Department of Education’s higher education classification system.
Because CIP code 14 consists of all engineering disciplines, like mechanical engineering or civil engineering, it considers average cost and earnings metrics across all of them.
We evaluated 368 schools that offer engineering bachelor’s programs to single out the best undergraduate engineering schools by value for money.
To rank highly, the program should historically give way to an average salary that offsets the cost of the engineering degree.
Still curious about our ranking process? Check out our methodology page.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$3,434
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$78,899
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate63%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The best-value engineering school is CUNY City College, a member of New York’s public university system. At large, CUNY City College’s 5th most popular undergraduate major is mechanical engineering.
City College is home to the reputable The Grove School of Engineering, which offers several academically rigorous programs in engineering. Incoming students can choose among engineering majors like biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, and several others.
Admitted applicants to The Grove School of Engineering will need to have a strong high school academic profile. A high school average of 85% or higher, including an average of 80% on select math and science courses, is a prerequisite for admission.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$6,275
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$87,790
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate89%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Coming in at 3rd best-value engineering school is the University of Florida (UF), a large public research university in Gainesville in North Central Florida.
UF’s Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering is a highly respected engineering school in Florida and, as one of the largest research centers in the state, offers plenty of opportunities for undergraduate research. Apart from the usual suspects, the school offers less conventional engineering majors like coastal & oceanographic engineering and human-centered computing.
While undergraduate admissions requirements include a minimum GPA of a C, the school notes that the average admitted applicants for its programs typically exceed this.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$10,851
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$111,958
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate97%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Stanford University is a prestigious private university in Stanford, California. With an acceptance rate of 4%, Stanford is the most selective institution on the West Coast.
Stanford University School of Engineering is among the best engineering schools in the country. Its 16 undergraduate programs span disciplines like aeronautics, civil engineering, and environmental systems engineering; there was also a custom option.
While the admitted student profile for the School of Engineering is unknown, 75% of first-year students at Stanford were reported to have a high school GPA of 4.0 in the Stanford Common Data Set from 2023-2024.
For the time being, Stanford is an SAT/ACT test-optional institution. Students who have already taken either test are encouraged to submit their scores if they think they’re a “positive reflection of their academic preparedness.”
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$6,450
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$81,750
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate84%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Florida State University (FSU) is a large public university in Tallahassee, Florida, and a member of the State University System of Florida.
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering is the joint college of engineering between Florida State University and Florida A&M University. Students at either university can earn a degree in any of its programs, and that degree will be given by their school.
Undergraduate majors include biomedical & chemical engineering, civil/environmental engineering, electrical & computer engineering, industrial & manufacturing engineering, and mechanical engineering.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$5,385
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$86,088
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate71%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The 2nd best-value engineering school in the country is California State University, Los Angeles, or Cal State LA – a large public university in Los Angeles and member of the California State University system.
Outside of the classroom, students can take part in one of ECST’s many clubs and organizations to round out their resumes across their engineering specializations of interest and make valuable long-term connections.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$4,778
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$71,971
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate54%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Rounding out our top 5 best-value engineering schools is Texas A & M International University, or TAMIU. This midsized public university in Laredo, Texas sits about a mile from the US-Mexico border. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution, most (95%) of its student population is of Hispanic descent.
Engineering undergraduate programs at the School of Engineering include systems engineering, computer engineering, and petroleum engineering. For students looking to transfer to other schools (for instance, University of Texas-Austin), a pre-engineering program is also an option.
Note that the SAT is optional for students in the top 40% of their high school class.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$8,601
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$94,714
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate51%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of Texas Permian Basin is a midsized public university in Odessa, in West Texas, and a member of the University of Texas public university system. It is an officially designated Hispanic-Serving Institution.
Students at UT Permian Basin’s College of Engineering choose from 4 undergraduate programs: chemical engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and petroleum engineering. Each discipline has its own dedicated lab.
The school at large automatically admits applicants with a 3.0 GPA or higher or who are in the top 25% of their high school class.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$17,371
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$142,255
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate94%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of California, Berkeley, or just UC Berkeley, is a nationally renowned public university in Berkely, California, on the San Francisco Bay.
The UC Berkeley College of Engineering is home to undergraduate programs like materials science & engineering, nuclear engineering, civil & environmental engineering, bioengineering, and even an “undeclared” option, which allows students to choose an engineering discipline by the fourth semester.
In 2023, most undergraduate students at the College of Engineering were at Berkeley’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences.
Like UC Berkeley itself, UC Berkeley College of Engineering is highly selective. The acceptance rate of the 2023-2024 freshman class was just 7%.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$8,722
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$84,354
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate75%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Florida International University (FSU) is a large public university in Miami, Florida, and a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution. Engineering is among the handful of majors the school is well-regarded for in the state.
The FIU College of Engineering and Computing offers several undergraduate degrees in engineering specializations like civil engineering, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, but also for contemporary fields like Internet of Things (loT).
A unique option among them is the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Engineering, which allows students to customize their learning across their specializations of interest.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$8,495
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$86,277
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate56%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$6,744
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$84,242
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate71%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
California State University-Fresno, or Fresno State, is a large public university in Fresno, California. The school is designated as both an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander and Hispanic-Serving Institution.
Fresno State’s Lyles College of Engineering offers 7 undergraduate degree programs that include unique majors like geomatics engineering and architectural studies. The Lyles College of Engineering’s Honors Program provides financial support for freshmen students who embody qualities like academic strength, entrepreneurship, and leadership ability.
Admitted applicants to Fresno State should have a 2.5 GPA or above for California residents (or a 3.0 GPA or above for non-residents) and have satisfied the relevant prerequisite courses for the department.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$7,485
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$85,840
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate81%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
California State University-Fullerton (CSUF) is a large public university in Fullerton, a city in Orange County, California. With a total enrollment of nearly 40,000, it is home to one of the largest student bodies in the state.
Cal State Fullerton’s College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) offers bachelor's degree programs in the following disciplines:
Civil engineering
Computer engineering
Computer science
Electrical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Qualifying criteria for undergraduate admission to the College of Engineering and Computer Science include earning a C or higher in the prerequisite courses outlined by the department. SAT I or ACT score submissions are required.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$20,338
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$120,515
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate97%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a large private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. As one of the first institutions for science and technology studies, MIT is often regarded as the best university in the world for engineering.
MIT School of Engineering offers several engineering undergraduate majors that include nuclear science and engineering, electrical engineering and computer science, civil and environmental engineering, chemical engineering, and other disciplines.
As expected, MIT School of Engineering is extremely selective: 4.8% of applicants were admitted to the Class of 2027. For that same class, the middle 50% range scored at least a 740 in SAT ERW and 780 in SAT Math.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$8,293
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$86,327
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate70%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is a large public university in Northridge, California, in the San Fernando Valley outside of Los Angeles.
Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Manufacturing Systems Engineering
Management Mechanical Engineering
The Honors Co-Op program is designed to set up academically gifted students in the College of Engineering and Computer Science with employment opportunities in their senior year.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$9,203
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$80,035
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate77%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of South Florida (USF) is a large public university in Tampa, Florida. USF’s College of Engineering, located on the main campus, spans 7 engineering disciplines:
Chemical, Biological & Materials Engineering
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Computer Science & Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Industrial & Management Systems Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Medical Engineering
Students admitted to the College of Engineering should have a 3.6 GPA or score a 610 or higher on SAT Math (or alternatively a 26 or higher on ACT Math).
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$8,721
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$85,668
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate83%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$8,852
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$77,595
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate69%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
University of North Florida (UNF) is a midsized public university in Jacksonville, Florida, ideally situated a stone’s throw from the beach and downtown.
UNF’s School of Engineering offers undergraduate degrees in advanced manufacturing engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.
Students applying to the School of Engineering are subject to UNF general admission requirements. The mid-range GPA for the incoming Fall 2023 class was a (recalculated) GPA of 3.80-4.44.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$15,637
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$100,618
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate93%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a large public university in Los Angeles, and one of the oldest members of the University of California public school system.
The 7 departments that make up the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering cover most of the standard engineering disciplines. Undergraduate degree programs include a newly added Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering. In 2023, the most popular undergraduate disciplines were computer science and mechanical engineering.
UCLA is widely considered a “Public Ivy.” As such, its admissions process is competitive, with its engineering school being no exception. For the 2023-2024 cycle, out of 34,470 undergraduate applicants to the Samueli School of Engineering across all departments, only 1,747 were accepted.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$8,636
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$77,725
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate67%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$7,007
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$75,513
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate55%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is a large public university in Edinburg, Texas, close to the Mexican border. It is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution.
UTRGV’s College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) comprises several departments for civil engineering, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, among others.
The typical admitted student at UTRGV has an average SAT score of 1030 and is in the top 25% of their class.
The career opportunities in a constantly evolving field like engineering are vast. Engineers initially trained in one discipline often engage in lifelong learning, crossing into other disciplines depending on their interests.
The most straightforward career path in engineering is to become what you study – so, if you earn a degree in mechanical engineering, you’d be a mechanical engineer.
These are a few of the most common engineering jobs and their average salaries.
Thinking an online engineering degree makes more sense for you? Check out our rankings for engineering degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s levels to decide if the online route is a better fit.
Our top 20 list included the best engineering colleges (without zeroing in on a specific discipline). Here are the top 5 best-value schools for some of the most popular engineering disciplines.
Best colleges for aerospace engineering
University of Florida
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
University of Washington
New Mexico State University
California State University, Long Beach
Best colleges for mechanical engineering
CUNY City College
California State University, Los Angeles
University of Florida
Florida International University
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Best colleges for biomedical engineering
CUNY City College
Florida International University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Illinois Urbana, Champaign
How much do engineers make? – by degree type
Curious how much you’ll make as an engineer? Check out these average salaries for all engineer degree holders across educational levels.
Note that salaries also vary across engineering disciplines like civil engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and so on, and what we’ve shared are averages across all disciplines.
Click on a degree card to reveal more information.
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