College ROI Report
Updated 2024
Best-value Colleges for Engineering Careers
If you’re considering a career as an engineer, you’re probably already making a wise financial decision.
| Rank | School Name | 20 Year Net ROI | Total 4 Year Cost | Graduation Rate | Typical Years to Graduate | Average Loan Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank:1 | School Name: Marietta College (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$1,575,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$207,000 | Graduation Rate:50% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$33,700 |
| Rank:2 | School Name: McNeese State University (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$1,371,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$94,600 | Graduation Rate:46% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$14,000 |
| Rank:3 | School Name:McNeese State University (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$1,345,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$120,000 | Graduation Rate:46% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$14,000 |
| Rank:4 | School Name: Lamar University (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$1,331,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$95,200 | Graduation Rate:38% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$22,000 |
| Rank:5 | School Name:Lamar University (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$1,292,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$135,000 | Graduation Rate:38% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$22,000 |
| Rank:6 | School Name:_50px.png) United States Merchant Marine Academy (Service Academy) | 20 Year Net ROI:$1,266,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$24,500 | Graduation Rate:77% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$17,300 |
| Rank:7 | School Name: at West Point_50px.png) United States Military Academy (Service Academy) | 20 Year Net ROI:$1,252,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$0 | Graduation Rate:88% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:- |
| Rank:8 | School Name:_50px.png) University of California-San Diego (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$1,216,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$142,000 | Graduation Rate:88% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$25,700 |
| Rank:9 | School Name: at Annapolis_50px.png) United States Naval Academy (Service Academy) | 20 Year Net ROI:$1,204,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$0 | Graduation Rate:90% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:- |
| Rank:10 | School Name: Stanford University (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$1,203,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$314,000 | Graduation Rate:95% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$52,000 |
Engineers of all types are in demand, and almost all can expect to receive high salaries. But if you want to set yourself up for real financial success, you want to choose a college that has a proven track record for producing alumni who receive a solid return on their education investment.
It’s not hard to find a high return on investment for engineering majors. So where should you attend college if you want to be an engineer or work in the architecture field? The University of California, San Diego is perennially a good bet, and the fact that you get to attend college next to the beautiful beaches in La Jolla, California is an added bonus.
Just a few hours north, UC Santa Barbara also consistently offers a solid return for engineers. UCSB also boasts a beautiful, beachside campus, and even though it has a reputation as a party school, it consistently ranks high in our ROI report.
On the east coast, The University of Maryland Terrapins — the nickname for the school’s “Terp” turtle mascot — can generally expect a solid ROI. Though the University of Maryland may not be as well-known as schools like Caltech, MIT or UC Berkeley, it’s a good bet for students who want to explore an engineering career path. Interesting note: The University of Maryland is the alma mater of Under Armour founder and CEO Kevin Plank, who supplies the school’s athletic teams with gear and apparel.
More rankings for best-value colleges:
Put a badge on it
Did your school rank well in one or more of the categories of the 2024 Payscale College ROI Report? You can easily share that good news with the world by placing a College ROI Report badge on your website.
EMBED CODE:
College salary report
Get up-to-date information on which colleges, degrees, and majors pay the most with breakouts for bachelor's degrees and associate's degrees by state and by type as well as common jobs by major with mid-career median pay.
Go to the report
The impact of a college degree on compensation
Learn how a bachelor’s degree affects salaries and which jobs see the most differentiation and get thought leadership and HR industry insights on how to manage graduate pay premiums and prepare for skills-based pay.
Go to the report