7 Cheapest Engineering Schools in the USA

From monumental buildings to gigantic oil tanker ships, engineering has always been the driving force behind all artificial technological marvels of our time. And what’s a better place to study engineering than the world’s most developed and technologically advanced country, the United States of America? The USA has a reputation for its engineering industry as they are home to the best engineering companies in the world.

For education, they have been globally recognized for their engineering schools. Having an engineering degree in the United States can open many opportunities in the future. However, it comes with a price. Some universities here are expensive, but some are affordable. In this article, we will examine several of the most affordable engineering schools in the U.S. We will focus on their bachelor’s programs, and the annual tuition fees for in-state, out-of-state, or international students will be quoted at the top of each paragraph.

Affordable Schools Offering Engineering Programs in the USA

1. North Carolina State University

• Admissions | Bachelor’s Tuition | Scholarships
• Tuition Fees: $8,986/year (In-State) | $33,034/year (Out-State and International)

North Carolina State University College of Engineering’s beginnings can be traced back to 1887 when it was founded North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. It’s one of the best schools in the USA where students can study nuclear physics at an affordable price.

In 1953, the NC State University College of Engineering launched its groundbreaking Nuclear Reactor Program and opened the world’s first full-size and fully operational nuclear reactor for student training. It was a brave step to take in the years of the Cold War. Since then, the 10-KW R1 atomic reactor has been upgraded several times according to the latest safety standards and recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Today, the engineering school has over 10,000 students, making it one of the largest schools of its kind in the United States. Moreover, NC State University at Raleigh’s College of Engineering also provides undergraduate programs in aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, and computer science, to name a few.

2. University of Michigan – Dearborn

• Admissions | Bachelor’s Tuition Fees | Scholarships
• Tuition Fees: $15,640 (In-State) | $32,896 (Out-State and International)

The University of Michigan-Dearborn was named one of the top 25 Midwest Regional Universities by the U.S. News & World Report. Its College of Engineering and Computer Science or CECS is firmly committed to tackling global recycling and cybersecurity issues. Its rapid prototyping laboratory makes this engineering college unique in the USA.

CECS has four departments that offer nearly 40 undergraduate, graduate, and full-time doctoral programs and Doctor of Engineering degrees. Some of the most popular bachelor’s programs offered by this cheap engineering school in the USA are the B.S. in Data Science, the B.S. in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, and the BSE in Manufacturing Engineering. The average GPA of the college’s incoming first-year student is 2.75.

3. Montana Technological University

• Admissions | Bachelor’s Tuition Fees | Scholarships
• Tuition Fees: $8,340/year (In-State) | $11,620 – $26,150/year (Out-State and International)

The School of Mines and Engineering at the Montana Technological University is the best value engineering school in the USA. It has a century-long tradition of providing the most affordable and up-to-date bachelor’s programs in geological and mining engineering. The school’s graduates easily secure jobs for some of the largest mining corporations worldwide.

Montana Tech’s academic focus is on using the latest technological advancements to find more environmentally friendly solutions and methods of fuel and minerals excavation and extraction. The teachers are some of the most renowned international experts in their fields, which means that all undergraduate students receive the best possible training at a very convenient price.

4. California State University – Chico

• Admissions | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
• Tuition Fees: $22,962 – $30,444/year (In-State) | $32,130 – $38,592/year (Out-State and International)

Among California State University campuses, the California State University—Chico boasts one of the best four-year graduation rates and the nation’s lowest average student debt. Its College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Construction Management provides accredited undergraduate degree programs in civil engineering, computer engineering, and concrete industry management, among other fields.

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering is also prevalent among the students at this cheap engineering school in the USA. CSU Chico is also one of the country’s best schools for sustainable engineering. It has even won the BWF’s prize for its efforts to tackle climate change. The college’s curricula provide a good balance between liberal arts subjects and technical courses.

5. University of Houston

• Admissions | Bachelor’s Tuition Fees | Scholarships
• Tuition Fees: $420.57/credit hour (In-State) | $958.11/credit hour (Out-State and International)

Established back in 1941, the University of Houston‘s Cullen College of Engineering currently has about 5,000 students enrolled in sixteen accredited undergraduate and graduate programs in the technical field. The college is organized into six central departments, each providing various undergraduate programs in its specific academic realm.

This school’s most popular undergraduate programs are petroleum engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and chemical and biomolecular engineering. It’s one of the technical higher schools in the USA that offers graduate students a Master of Science in Subsea Engineering.

6. Iowa State University 

• Admissions | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
• Tuition Fees: $4,626 – $7,355/year (In-State) | $13,673 – $16,417/year (Out-State) | $14,634 – $17,379/year (International)

The College of Engineering at Iowa State University is committed to creating technological solutions that improve the world. Therefore, it pushes its students to the limits of human knowledge. This technical school is famous for its achievements in precise electronics. It has patented several models of radar cloaking devices and gravitational wave detectors.

This cheap engineering school in the United States offers other popular undergraduate programs, such as civil, construction, and environmental engineering, materials science and engineering, and industrial engineering. Please note that all undergraduate students at the College of Engineering must pay a small addition to their standard annual tuition fee, “differential tuition.”

7. Oklahoma State University

• Admissions | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
• Tuition Fees: $183.25/credit hour

Oklahoma State University is nationally famous for its excellent undergraduate programs in architecture, mechanical, and agricultural engineering, as well as computer science. Popular bachelor’s programs at this school include electrical engineering technology, fire protection and safety engineering, and mechanical engineering technology.

During the 2020–2021 school year, OSU’s College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology, or CEAT, has released $3.2 million in scholarships, and 50% of its graduates did not incur any student loan debt. International students coming to CEAT may apply for the International Achievement Freshman Scholarship, worth $10,000 a year for their studies.

Due to its top engineering firms, the United States is one of the best countries in the world to study engineering. Although tuition fees vary, an American bachelor’s degree in engineering can lead to numerous career opportunities. Looking at U.S. engineering institutions, especially ones with lower tuition, can be a great start to a successful career.

We hope this article on cheap engineering schools in the USA was helpful. To learn more information on studying in the United States, feel free to check out the Study in the USA and the Available Programs for International Students in the USA sections!