Planning to study engineering abroad? Check the Top 10 affordable engineering colleges in USA

5 min


Education should be right, not a privilege. Millions of students cannot fulfill their dream to study in their preferred place or institution because of the lack of resources which is money. Studying engineering in the USA with top colleges is a dream for many engineering aspirants. But, if a person wants to study abroad, he or she may not afford to study due to the high fees or lack of knowledge. But there are still affordable and good quality engineering colleges in the USA.

  • As per the reports of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the expected number of engineering jobs will be 140,000 between 2016-2026.
  • Engineering jobs are lucrative, and ROI is good. As per BLS, 88,800 USD is the average mean salary. Whereas, some states like the District of Columbia may end up paying 112,320 USD as a mean salary. Michigan has the highest concentration of jobs, with 32.2 per thousand jobs.
  • You will come across 91 engineering colleges among the top 500 list globally as per Q.S. Rankings. Now some of them are top quality ones like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Stanford University. There are also colleges for students who are on a budget like the Oklahoma State University, Institute of Technology or Henderson University.
  • The USA attracts millions of students around the globe towards its quality of education it provides. The International Educational Exchange states that 10,95,299 international students stepped in the USA in 2019. This number is huge!
  • Engineering Colleges in USA are known for their research and workshop type of education rather than being course oriented. Some engineering colleges provide all of that at affordable fees.

Here are the top 10 most affordable Engineering Colleges in USA

There are various engineering colleges in the USA which charge very less compared to others and provide you with quality education. So, you can study abroad in your dream place with fees very less than what you have heard:

The City University of New York

This college is known for its quality and affordable education since 1961. It believes in giving knowledge as power, and yes, it is evident from the fact that its alumni are receiving Nobel Prize. The college offers undergraduate engineering courses for 4 years. The fee ranges from 17,000 USD to 27,451 USD per year depending upon the courses.

California State University, Long Beach

This university aims to provide quality education to each and everyone at an affordable price. Established in 1949, the university also has 23 campuses. The college has so far 35,000 undergraduate and over 6,000 graduates enrolled in its various courses. You will find engineering courses for 4 years. The fee ranges around 39,215 USD per year depending upon the course.

The University of Texas

The University was established in 1883 and now imparts world-class education at an affordable price. The Austin Campus ranks 28th among top engineering colleges, and the Dallas Campus ranks 314th. It offers 4 years of undergraduate engineering courses with fees range 32679 – to 35294 USD per year depending upon departments.

University of California, Los Angeles

Ranked among the top 100 universities of the USA, the university is known for its quality education it provides. It was established in 1882 and offers engineering courses of 4 years in duration. The course fee varies around 39,216 USD for each year of study.

Broward College

As per U.S. News, Broward college is among the top 15 affordable engineering colleges in USA. This college is located in Florida and established in 1960. The colleges have total undergraduate enrollments of about 40,784. The campus area is 370 acres. The average fees are 10,000 USD, a little less or higher based on course.

Henderson State University

Established in 1890, the university has a legacy of producing gems out of its students. This university is known for its quality education at the most affordable fees. The undergraduate engineering courses are of 4 years here. The university has a total of 3,557 enrollments. 3000 of which are undergraduate and 557 are graduate enrollments. The fee ranges from 7,843 USD per year depending upon departments.

University of California, Berkeley

Ranked 5th in the world as per Q.S. for engineering courses in the world, the university offers top quality and modern education to its students. The university was established in the year 1968 and boasts of 350 scholars. The university has a total of 42,000 students, 130 departments of study, and 80 interdisciplinary research units. The engineering course at undergraduate level spans for 4 years with fees up to 42,000 USD.

South Texas College

Established in 1993, South Texas College serves society to impart quality education at an affordable cost. It has 5 campuses under and provides many valuable scholarships too. The Bachelor’s in Engineering course is of 4 years but also offers 2 years Associate degrees as well. The fee ranges around 5,228 USD per year depending upon departments.

Purdue University, West Lafayette

Established in 1862, Purdue University is known for excelling in the field of maths, astronomy, engineering. This university has a legacy of notable alumni. The university has so far 9303 international students from 127 countries. Engineering courses in this university are extremely beneficial. The fee ranges around 32,244 USD per year depending on the course type.

University of Illinois

The University of Illinois came into existence in 1867 and has 2 campuses, one at Urbana Champagne and the other at Chicago. The Urbana Champaign ranks 27, and the Chicago campus ranks 210 in the world among top engineering colleges. Imparting quality education and with a legacy of notable alumni, this university attracts millions every year from different parts of the world. The fee ranges around 14,379 USD per year for engineering courses.

Engineering Colleges in USA: Entry Requirements

Students who want to study in engineering colleges in USA are needed to fulfill the following criteria:

  • SAT (Scholastic assessment test) is a must. SAT comprises 2 parts English and Mathematics of 100 minutes and 80 minutes respectively. You will be asked to write an essay too, and for that, you will get 50 minutes. There is no negative marking for the SAT.
  • The validity of the SAT is 5 years, and you can give it 6 times whenever you want. Preparation for this examination is not extremely difficult; you can easily assess this if you are consistent and passionate about your studies. The average SAT cut-off for the USA is between 800-1560.
  • What next? You have to take up TOEFL or IELTS which are exams to check your English language. Prepare for both of these exams well, and you will succeed for sure. IELTS score should be 7, and the TOEFL score should be 85 – 100.
  • The application window of the colleges in the USA starts in September. Fill the form for the college you want to apply to.

Documents – Collect 2-3 Letter of Recommendations of your past qualification. Have mark sheets ready of 10 + 2. Along with that, you will need an updated resume, photographs, passport, id proof and statement of purpose.

What to consider before applying to engineering colleges in the USA?

Before applying to engineering colleges in the USA, ask yourself why you want to apply, what will be the ROI after studying abroad? Make sure you consider a few points below:

  1. What are the eligibility criteria for the college?
  2. How many fees is it charging?
  3. It’s ranking.
  4. Whether the course you prefer is present in the college or not.
  5. The environment of the place.
  6. Facilities are available.
  7. Search for a scholarship if available.

What to do next?

After applying by self or by an education consultant if you get selected then apply for a visa. Make sure to make your insurance and health check-up done during that time.

Are scholarships available with engineering colleges in the USA?

There are various scholarship schemes available with many engineering colleges in the USA. The scholarships cover tuition fees and to a certain extent, cost of living and health insurance. The scholarship worth ranges from 800 USD to 30,000 USD. Also, you can work while learning and work as assistants as well on campuses. So, Focus on your studies, excel in your grades, and you might land up in the USA studying engineering for a very minimal cost.

The USA is also known for its research spending, which is 543 Billion USD. So, there is plenty of scope for Doctorate & Ph.D. students as well. Excellent median salaries, excellent work culture with lots of diversity, and many attractive holiday destinations make the USA a favorite study destination.

So, if you have made up your mind to study in engineering colleges in the USA, prepare for your exams well, follow a well-maintained routine, have good food, and stay healthy!

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