2026 Best Value General Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value General Engineering graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 790 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree evaluated 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 General Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat Minnesota State University Mankato this year in the United States. Based in Mankato, MN, Minnesota State University Mankato is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Typical General Engineering student debt is $27,627. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,922 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants. More on Minnesota State University Mankato
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned it the #2 place in the United States. Set in Lincoln, NE, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Typical General Engineering student debt is $22,386. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,887 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $22,386 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%. Read the full report on University Of Nebraska Lincoln
You'll get strong value at Texas A And M University College Station, which ranked #3 this year. This public school is set in College Station, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete their General Engineering program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $72,097. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%. More on Texas A And M University College Station
You'll get strong value at The University Of Texas At Austin, which ranked #4 this year. This public school is set in Austin, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete their General Engineering program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $75,121. Set against $21,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At Austin has an acceptance rate of 27%. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At Austin
Out of the 790 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Michigan Technological University landed the #5 spot. Based in Houghton, MI, Michigan Technological University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $20,532 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,807. The median General Engineering program debt is $25,800. Michigan Technological University alumni report median earnings of $78,198 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $25,800 median debt. Michigan Technological University has an acceptance rate of 92%. Read the full report on Michigan Technological University
Villanova University came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Based in Villanova, PA, Villanova University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,776. Students borrow a median of $26,184 to complete their General Engineering program here. Villanova University alumni report median earnings of $100,423 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Villanova University has an acceptance rate of 27%. Get the full Villanova University report
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Engineering schools. This public school is set in Athens, OH. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Typical General Engineering student debt is $24,546. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $52,581. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted. See the full Ohio University Main Campus profile
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a public school based in Rapid City, SD. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,500, with out-of-state students paying around $14,900. Students borrow a median of $26,668 to complete their General Engineering program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $72,257. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology has an acceptance rate of 80%. Read the full report on South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology
University Of Maryland College Park offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. This public school is set in College Park, MD. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. University Of Maryland College Park General Engineering students take on a median of $20,836 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $82,860. Set against $20,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 45% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Maryland College Park
University Of Iowa came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Iowa City, IA. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,463 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $64,762. That is a strong return on a $24,463 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of Iowa
Colorado School Of Mines placed #11 among the best-value General Engineering schools in the United States. Set in Golden, CO, Colorado School Of Mines is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,914, compared with $45,824 for out-of-state students. Colorado School Of Mines General Engineering students take on a median of $24,521 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $97,335. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado School Of Mines has an acceptance rate of 61%. See the full Colorado School Of Mines profile
University Of Utah ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Engineering schools. This public school is set in Salt Lake City, UT. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. Students borrow a median of $20,798 to complete their General Engineering program here. Median earnings reach $67,170 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $20,798 median debt. About 86% of those who apply are admitted. More on University Of Utah
Duke University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Engineering schools. Located in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. Graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $97,800. That is a strong return on a $13,296 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Duke University report
Wayne State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Engineering schools. Wayne State University is a public school based in Detroit, MI. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Wayne State University General Engineering students take on a median of $26,689 in debt. Median earnings reach $53,493 ten years out. Set against $26,689 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants. Read the full report on Wayne State University
Cuny College Of Staten Island ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Engineering schools. Get the full Cuny College Of Staten Island report
King College
King College landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. More on King College
Paradise Valley Community College came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Paradise Valley Community College
Canadian Valley Technology Center ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Engineering schools. Read more about Canadian Valley Technology Center
Forsyth Technical Community College came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Forsyth Technical Community College
North Dakota State University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Get the full North Dakota State University Main Campus report
Northwest Vista College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Engineering schools. Read more about Northwest Vista College
Adirondack Community College landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Adirondack Community College
Cape Fear Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Read the full report on Cape Fear Community College
Norwich University placed #24 among the best-value General Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Norwich University
Tidewater Community College came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Tidewater Community College report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value General Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Arizona State University landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Arizona State University
Kennebec Valley Community College placed #27 among the best-value General Engineering schools in the United States. Get the full Kennebec Valley Community College report
Roger Williams University offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. More on Roger Williams University
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Suny College Of Technology At Alfred
Texas Christian University placed #30 among the best-value General Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Texas Christian University
Wilkes Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. More on Wilkes Community College
Yeshiva University placed #32 among the best-value General Engineering schools in the United States. Get the full Yeshiva University report
City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College placed #33 among the best-value General Engineering schools in the United States. Read more about City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College
Dartmouth College landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Dartmouth College
Purdue University Northwest landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Purdue University Northwest
Shasta College
Shasta College came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Shasta College
California Baptist University placed #37 among the best-value General Engineering schools in the United States. See the full California Baptist University profile
Cleveland State University placed #38 among the best-value General Engineering schools in the United States. See the full Cleveland State University profile
Northeast Technology Center System Office ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Engineering schools. Read the full report on Northeast Technology Center System Office
Santa Barbara City College ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Engineering schools. See the full Santa Barbara City College profile
University Of San Francisco ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Engineering schools. Get the full University Of San Francisco report
University Of Southern Indiana placed #42 among the best-value General Engineering schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Southern Indiana
University Of The Pacific placed #43 among the best-value General Engineering schools in the United States. Get the full University Of The Pacific report
Washington University In St Louis landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Washington University In St Louis
The Community College Of Baltimore County came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on The Community College Of Baltimore County
University Of Wisconsin Platteville landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Platteville
New Mexico State University Carlsbad placed #47 among the best-value General Engineering schools in the United States. Get the full New Mexico State University Carlsbad report
North Hennepin Community College placed #48 among the best-value General Engineering schools in the United States. Get the full North Hennepin Community College report
Saddleback College placed #49 among the best-value General Engineering schools in the United States. Read more about Saddleback College
Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Engineering schools. Get the full Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave report
Related General Engineering Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value General Engineering Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value General Engineering Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Engineering Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Engineering Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value General Engineering Doctoral 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 790 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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