Best Value Mechanical Engineering Colleges

University of Michigan-Dearborn stands out with the highest graduate earnings at $80,486 while maintaining a net price of $10,904, demonstrating how proximity to automotive manufacturing centers can drive salaries. The price spread across these programs tells a compelling story, ranging from CUNY City College's remarkable $3,486 net cost to programs nearing $11,000. Public universities dominate this value equation, with most charging under $8,000 annually while producing graduates who earn between $50,000 and $80,000. The Midwest and Southwest regions particularly benefit from strong manufacturing economies, where mechanical engineers support everything from aerospace in Texas to automotive production in Michigan. Graduation rates vary significantly, from University of Florida's impressive 91.5% to programs hovering around 45%, suggesting that academic support systems matter as much as cost. With mechanical engineering jobs projected to grow as manufacturing returns to American soil, these affordable programs position students to enter a field where starting salaries consistently exceed national averages.

Programs

$3,486 – $14,773

Net Price Range

$65,671

Avg. Program Earnings

59.2%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Mechanical Engineering Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	CUNY City College New York, New York	$3,486	$68,618	$7,340	54.7%	66.6%
2	California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, California	$4,113	$50,856	$6,813	52.6%	86.9%
3	California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, California	$5,646	$62,792	$7,073	69.2%	66.7%
4	University of Florida Gainesville, Florida	$6,351	$67,427	$6,381	91.5%	23.4%
5	California State University-Fresno Fresno, California	$6,480	$60,230	$6,980	54.8%	95.4%
6	New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, New Mexico	$6,747	$61,814	$8,147	52.2%	78.1%
7	Brigham Young University-Idaho Rexburg, Idaho	$7,131	$64,493	$4,656	55.1%	95.6%
8	California State University-Northridge Northridge, California	$7,599	$66,756	$7,095	56.2%	91.2%
9	The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, Texas	$6,500	$52,107	$9,859	49.3%	87.7%
10	New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Socorro, New Mexico	$8,265	$66,045	$9,058	56.4%	74.4%
11	Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida	$8,001	$63,463	$4,879	64.3%	81.3%
12	University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Waterbury, Connecticut	$8,896	$69,013	$17,462	59.5%	97.9%
13	The University of Texas Permian Basin Odessa, Texas	$9,144	$69,732	$10,904	43.0%	94.7%
14	University of Michigan-Dearborn Dearborn, Michigan	$10,904	$80,486	$14,944	56.6%	54.1%
15	Purdue University Northwest Hammond, Indiana	$8,463	$62,260	$8,419	44.0%	72.8%
16	Florida International University Miami, Florida	$9,133	$66,897	$6,565	73.9%	63.9%
17	California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, California	$8,931	$65,029	$7,008	69.9%	40.0%
18	University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, Alaska	$9,634	$68,219	$8,640	36.7%
19	West Virginia University Institute of Technology Beckley, West Virginia	$9,957	$65,457	$8,064	36.1%	64.6%
20	Tennessee State University Nashville, Tennessee	$10,026	$64,990	$8,568	33.0%
21	Stanford University Stanford, California	$12,136	$78,343	$62,484	92.8%	3.7%
22	Lamar University Beaumont, Texas	$11,429	$73,446	$8,690	37.2%	83.7%
23	North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, North Carolina	$10,980	$68,666	$6,748	55.3%	56.4%
24	University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada	$10,011	$61,110	$9,142	50.1%	85.3%
25	Texas A & M University-Kingsville Kingsville, Texas	$10,204	$62,012	$9,892	45.6%	96.6%
26	University of Connecticut-Avery Point Groton, Connecticut	$11,504	$69,013	$17,462	56.7%	97.4%
27	California State University-Sacramento Sacramento, California	$10,512	$63,005	$7,602	55.8%	93.2%
28	University of South Florida Tampa, Florida	$10,043	$60,025	$6,410	74.6%	43.9%
29	University of North Florida Jacksonville, Florida	$10,353	$61,516	$6,389	68.2%	70.5%
30	Indiana University-Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana	$11,408	$67,660	$10,449	53.9%	82.9%
31	Christian Brothers University Memphis, Tennessee	$10,896	$64,493	$37,300	56.0%	87.5%
32	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, California	$11,580	$67,918	$7,439	66.7%	55.4%
33	University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida	$10,650	$61,516	$6,368	75.1%	41.0%
34	University of California-San Diego La Jolla, California	$11,750	$67,846	$15,265	87.6%	23.7%
35	Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, Kentucky	$10,916	$63,005	$11,436	53.7%	97.0%
36	University of Michigan-Flint Flint, Michigan	$12,280	$70,776	$14,014	44.6%	66.4%
37	Oakland University Rochester Hills, Michigan	$13,584	$76,962	$14,694	56.9%	90.1%
38	University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell, Washington	$10,898	$61,218	$12,559	68.2%	88.1%
39	Youngstown State University Youngstown, Ohio	$11,877	$66,222	$10,791	52.9%	80.6%
40	Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida	$10,997	$61,303	$5,656	83.0%	25.0%
41	University of New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana	$11,147	$62,012	$9,172	42.5%	69.8%
42	The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, Texas	$10,726	$58,943	$9,744	45.9%	99.9%
43	Rice University Houston, Texas	$12,640	$68,219	$58,128	95.7%	8.7%
44	Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, Georgia	$13,289	$70,672	$11,764	92.3%	17.1%
45	The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, Texas	$11,234	$59,485	$8,991	51.2%	86.9%
46	University of Southern Maine Portland, Maine	$11,729	$61,728	$10,920	46.3%	85.4%
47	Louisiana Tech University Ruston, Louisiana	$12,209	$63,600	$10,125	57.6%	62.4%
48	University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus Hartford, Connecticut	$13,339	$69,013	$17,452	65.4%	97.3%
49	University of Houston Houston, Texas	$13,853	$71,202	$9,711	64.9%	66.2%
50	Wayne State University Detroit, Michigan	$14,773	$75,921	$14,297	56.5%	75.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY City College such an strong value for mechanical engineering?

CUNY City College offers the lowest net price at just $3,486 while graduates earn $68,618 annually, creating an outstanding return on investment. The program maintains a 54.7% graduation rate with relatively low student debt of $13,232. Students gain access to New York's manufacturing and construction sectors, where mechanical engineers command competitive salaries in one of the nation's most expensive job markets.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs in mechanical engineering?

University of Florida achieves the highest graduation rate at 91.5% with a net price of $6,351, while some lower-cost options like UT Permian Basin show 43% graduation rates despite strong earning potential of $69,732. California State universities generally maintain graduation rates between 52% and 69% at costs under $8,000. The data suggests that academic rigor and support systems, rather than price alone, drive completion rates.

Is studying mechanical engineering in California worth the investment?

California State universities offer strong value, with net prices ranging from $4,113 to $7,599 and graduate earnings between $50,856 and $66,756. CSU Fullerton leads California schools with a 69.2% graduation rate and $62,792 average earnings. The state's aerospace, automotive, and technology industries provide abundant entry-level opportunities for mechanical engineers across multiple metropolitan areas.

Does location significantly impact mechanical engineering graduate earnings?

Geographic location plays a major role, with Michigan-Dearborn graduates earning $80,486 due to proximity to automotive headquarters and suppliers. Texas programs show strong earning potential, with UT Permian Basin graduates averaging $69,732 in the oil and gas region. Even lower-cost programs like New Mexico Tech produce graduates earning $66,045, reflecting the Southwest's growing aerospace and energy sectors.

What debt levels should mechanical engineering students expect from these programs?

Student debt varies considerably, from Cal State LA's low $12,500 average to University of Connecticut-Waterbury's $22,089. Most programs on this list keep debt under $20,000, with public universities generally offering better debt-to-income ratios. Brigham Young-Idaho achieves particularly strong outcomes with $17,290 average debt and $64,493 graduate earnings, creating favorable loan repayment scenarios.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.