2026 Best Value Engineering Related Fields Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Engineering Related Fields doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 237 schools 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, Grad Degree analyzed schools to compile 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 Related Fields Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Clemson University tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Engineering Related Fields doctoral degree schools in the United States. Clemson University is a public school based in Clemson, SC. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,554, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. Typical Engineering Related Fields student debt is $25,000. Clemson University alumni report median earnings of $71,513 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Clemson University
A rank of #2 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the best values in the United States. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school based in West Lafayette, IN. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Purdue University Main Campus Engineering Related Fields students take on a median of $16,625 in debt. Median earnings reach $72,424 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants. Read the full report on Purdue University Main Campus
A rank of #3 makes George Washington University one of the best values in the United States. Based in Washington, DC, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,710 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete their Engineering Related Fields program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $90,873 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 47% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full George Washington University report
A rank of #4 makes Stanford University one of the best values in the United States. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit school based in Stanford, CA. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,910. The median Engineering Related Fields program debt is $10,492. Graduates go on to earn a median of $124,080 ten years after entry. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%. Read the full report on Stanford University
Out of the 237 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Southern Methodist University landed the #5 spot. Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Dallas, TX. Students from in state pay about $67,040 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete their Engineering Related Fields program here. Median earnings reach $78,354 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 63% of those who apply are admitted. More on Southern Methodist University
Michigan State University offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Typical Engineering Related Fields student debt is $23,756. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,253 ten years after entry. Set against $23,756 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Michigan State University
Missouri University Of Science And Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Rolla, MO, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. The median Engineering Related Fields program debt is $28,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $82,957 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Missouri University Of Science And Technology has an acceptance rate of 72%. More on Missouri University Of Science And Technology
Stevens Institute Of Technology came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Located in Hoboken, NJ, Stevens Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $63,462. Stevens Institute Of Technology Engineering Related Fields students take on a median of $26,975 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $108,772 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,975 median debt. Stevens Institute Of Technology has an acceptance rate of 48%. See the full Stevens Institute Of Technology profile
Pratt Institute Main placed #9 among the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools in the United States. Read the full report on Pratt Institute Main
Utah State University landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Utah State University
Duke University
Duke University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools. Read the full report on Duke University
Colorado Christian University came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. More on Colorado Christian University
Georgia Southern University came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. See the full Georgia Southern University profile
Johnson And Wales University Online ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools. See the full Johnson And Wales University Online profile
Washington University In St Louis ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools. More on Washington University In St Louis
Christian Brothers University offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read more about Christian Brothers University
Excelsior College offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Read the full report on Excelsior College
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools. Read the full report on Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Claremont Mckenna College came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Claremont Mckenna College
East Carolina University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools. Read more about East Carolina University
Loyola Marymount University landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Loyola Marymount University
Arizona State University placed #22 among the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools in the United States. See the full Arizona State University profile
Auburn University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools. Get the full Auburn University report
Colorado School Of Mines offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Read the full report on Colorado School Of Mines
Rochester Institute Of Technology placed #25 among the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools in the United States. More on Rochester Institute Of Technology
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Engineering Related Fields Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Dartmouth College placed #26 among the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools in the United States. Get the full Dartmouth College report
Kansas State University came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Kansas State University report
Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology placed #28 among the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools in the United States. Read the full report on Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology
Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico Orlando Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. More on Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico Orlando Campus
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte placed #30 among the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools in the United States. Get the full University Of North Carolina At Charlotte report
Edison State Community College placed #31 among the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools in the United States. Read more about Edison State Community College
Morehead State University placed #32 among the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools in the United States. Read more about Morehead State University
Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management report
Grand Valley State University offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. More on Grand Valley State University
University Of Kansas landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Kansas
Widener University Main Campus ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools. See the full Widener University Main Campus profile
Robert Morris University placed #37 among the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools in the United States. Read the full report on Robert Morris University
Wilkes University placed #38 among the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools in the United States. More on Wilkes University
Hofstra University placed #39 among the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools in the United States. See the full Hofstra University profile
New England Institute Of Technology came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Read more about New England Institute Of Technology
Tufts University
Tufts University ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools. See the full Tufts University profile
Kennesaw State University placed #42 among the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools in the United States. Read more about Kennesaw State University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. More on Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Arizona landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Arizona profile
Drexel University came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Drexel University
University Of Maine placed #46 among the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Maine report
University Of South Carolina Upstate came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of South Carolina Upstate
California State University Chico came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. Read more about California State University Chico
Massachusetts Maritime Academy placed #49 among the best-value Engineering Related Fields schools in the United States. Read the full report on Massachusetts Maritime Academy
United States Military Academy offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. Read the full report on United States Military Academy
Related Engineering Related Fields Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Engineering Related Fields Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Engineering Related Fields Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Engineering Related Fields Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Engineering Related Fields Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Engineering Related Fields Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Engineering Related Fields Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Engineering Related Fields Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Grad Degree (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 237 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).
GradDegree.com 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.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.