Cheapest Mechanical Engineering Colleges

CUNY City College delivers the nation's best value in mechanical engineering education with a net cost of just $3,486, yet its graduates earn $68,618 annually. This remarkable return on investment highlights how public institutions can compete with elite programs while keeping education accessible. The $4,350 gap between City College and California State University-Los Angeles shows significant savings exist even among affordable options. New York's manufacturing sector, spanning aerospace components to medical devices, provides ample opportunities for mechanical engineering graduates. The state hosts over 30,000 manufacturing establishments that rely heavily on mechanical engineers for product development and production optimization. Students can enter the workforce with minimal debt while accessing one of the country's largest engineering job markets.

Programs

$3,486 – $10,916

Net Price Range

$62,107

Avg. Program Earnings

50.3%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Mechanical Engineering Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	CUNY City College New York, New York	$3,486	$7,340	54.7%	66.6%
2	California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, California	$4,113	$6,813	52.6%	86.9%
3	Ohio University-Eastern Campus Saint Clairsville, Ohio	$4,503	$6,178	20.0%
4	University of Florida-Online Gainesville, Florida	$4,702	$3,876	77.7%	64.6%
5	Northern New Mexico College Espanola, New Mexico	$5,216	$6,400	32.6%
6	Ohio University-Southern Campus Ironton, Ohio	$5,328	$6,178	19.3%
7	California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, California	$5,646	$7,073	69.2%	66.7%
8	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus Zanesville, Ohio	$5,971	$6,178	17.7%
9	Ohio University-Lancaster Campus Lancaster, Ohio	$6,133	$6,178	13.7%
10	University of Florida Gainesville, Florida	$6,351	$6,381	91.5%	23.4%
11	California State University-Fresno Fresno, California	$6,480	$6,980	54.8%	95.4%
12	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus Chillicothe, Ohio	$6,483	$6,178	12.1%
13	The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, Texas	$6,500	$9,859	49.3%	87.7%
14	New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, New Mexico	$6,747	$8,147	52.2%	78.1%
15	Brigham Young University-Idaho Rexburg, Idaho	$7,131	$4,656	55.1%	95.6%
16	Wilberforce University Wilberforce, Ohio	$7,349	$14,776	16.0%	45.1%
17	California State University-Northridge Northridge, California	$7,599	$7,095	56.2%	91.2%
18	Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus Gurabo, Puerto Rico	$7,668	$6,920	30.2%
19	Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida	$8,001	$4,879	64.3%	81.3%
20	Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo Arecibo, Puerto Rico	$8,036	$5,580	35.4%	33.3%
21	University of West Florida Pensacola, Florida	$8,155	$6,360	61.8%	48.0%
22	New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Socorro, New Mexico	$8,265	$9,058	56.4%	74.4%
23	Marshall University Huntington, West Virginia	$8,327	$8,942	48.7%	96.9%
24	Purdue University Northwest Hammond, Indiana	$8,463	$8,419	44.0%	72.8%
25	Utah Valley University Orem, Utah	$8,463	$6,270	40.7%
26	Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon Bayamon, Puerto Rico	$8,783	$5,580	33.0%	33.8%
27	University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Waterbury, Connecticut	$8,896	$17,462	59.5%	97.9%
28	California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, California	$8,931	$7,008	69.9%	40.0%
29	Inter American University of Puerto Rico-San German San German, Puerto Rico	$9,034	$5,580	42.7%	40.1%
30	Florida International University Miami, Florida	$9,133	$6,565	73.9%	63.9%
31	The University of Texas Permian Basin Odessa, Texas	$9,144	$10,904	43.0%	94.7%
32	University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, Alaska	$9,634	$8,640	36.7%
33	Florida Polytechnic University Lakeland, Florida	$9,899	$4,940	53.0%	56.0%
34	West Virginia University Institute of Technology Beckley, West Virginia	$9,957	$8,064	36.1%	64.6%
35	University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada	$10,011	$9,142	50.1%	85.3%
36	University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma, Washington	$10,017	$12,817	62.3%	88.4%
37	Tennessee State University Nashville, Tennessee	$10,026	$8,568	33.0%
38	University of South Florida Tampa, Florida	$10,043	$6,410	74.6%	43.9%
39	Texas A & M University-Kingsville Kingsville, Texas	$10,204	$9,892	45.6%	96.6%
40	The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin, Tennessee	$10,299	$10,208	54.8%	88.4%
41	University of North Florida Jacksonville, Florida	$10,353	$6,389	68.2%	70.5%
42	California State University-Sacramento Sacramento, California	$10,512	$7,602	55.8%	93.2%
43	Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey	$10,555	$59,710	97.1%	5.7%
44	University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida	$10,650	$6,368	75.1%	41.0%
45	Weber State University Ogden, Utah	$10,722	$6,391	43.0%
46	The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, Texas	$10,726	$9,744	45.9%	99.9%
47	Christian Brothers University Memphis, Tennessee	$10,896	$37,300	56.0%	87.5%
48	University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell, Washington	$10,898	$12,559	68.2%	88.1%
49	University of Michigan-Dearborn Dearborn, Michigan	$10,904	$14,944	56.6%	54.1%
50	Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, Kentucky	$10,916	$11,436	53.7%	97.0%

Frequently Asked Questions

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

City College combines the lowest net cost at $3,486 with the highest graduate earnings at $68,618 among affordable programs. Students graduate with just $13,232 in debt while accessing New York's extensive manufacturing and engineering sectors. The 54.70% graduation rate demonstrates solid student success despite the affordable tuition structure.

How do California State University mechanical engineering programs compare in terms of cost and outcomes?

Cal State Fullerton offers the strongest combination with a $5,646 net cost and $62,792 graduate earnings. Cal State Fresno provides similar value at $6,480 with $60,230 earnings and accepts 95.43% of applicants. Both programs maintain reasonable debt levels under $19,000 while preparing students for California's solid aerospace and technology industries.

Is University of Florida worth the higher cost compared to other affordable options?

University of Florida commands a $6,351 net cost but delivers strong value through a 91.50% graduation rate and $67,427 average earnings. The program accepts only 23.35% of applicants, indicating high academic standards. Students graduate with $18,131 in debt, positioning them well for Florida's growing aerospace and defense manufacturing sectors.

What explains the low graduation rates at Ohio University regional campuses?

Ohio University's regional campuses show graduation rates between 12.10% and 20.00% despite reasonable costs around $5,000-$6,000. These campuses primarily serve local populations with part-time and working students who may transfer to complete degrees elsewhere. The $26,216 debt figure reflects students who may not complete their programs at these specific locations.

How does Brigham Young University-Idaho compare as a private option among affordable programs?

BYU-Idaho offers competitive value at $7,131 net cost with graduates earning $64,493 annually. The 55.10% graduation rate and $17,290 debt load rival public institutions while maintaining private education benefits. The 95.56% acceptance rate makes it accessible, though students should consider the religious affiliation and cultural fit.

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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.