2027 Best Value General Engineering Technology Schools in the Southeast Region
[General Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/general-engineering-technology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general engineering technology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 42 schools to find the best return on investment for general engineering technology students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value General Engineering Technology Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general engineering technology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Engineering Technology Schools
Leading the list is Wilkes Community College, our #1 best value for general engineering technology in the Southeast Region. Located in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,572, while out-of-state students pay about $8,716. General Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $9,125 in student loans. Early-career general engineering technology graduates make about $36,341. That is a strong return on a $9,125 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Johnston Community College earned it the #2 place for general engineering technology. Set in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,756, while out-of-state students pay about $8,900. Students borrow a median of $9,490 to complete the general engineering technology program here. Early-career general engineering technology graduates make about $37,472. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general engineering technology will find it at Hillsborough Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,491, with out-of-state students paying around $9,088. Students borrow a median of $16,142 to complete the general engineering technology program here. Early-career general engineering technology graduates make about $44,101. That is a strong return on a $16,142 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Pellissippi State Community College one of the best values for general engineering technology. Pellissippi State Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Knoxville. Students from in state pay about $4,786 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,770. General Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $6,685 in student loans. General Engineering Technology graduates of Pellissippi State Community College earn a median of $61,687 early in their careers. Set against $6,685 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida State College At Jacksonville came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering technology schools. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. General Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans. Early-career general engineering technology graduates make about $46,748. Set against $19,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pensacola State College came in at #6 for value in general engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,361 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,463. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the general engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering technology degree recipients from Pensacola State College generally make around $45,811. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bridgevalley Community And Technical College placed #7 among the best values for general engineering technology. Set in the suburb of South Charleston, Bridgevalley Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,800, compared with $12,428 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,958 to complete the general engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering technology degree recipients from Bridgevalley Community And Technical College generally make around $46,587. That is a strong return on a $11,958 median debt.
Northwest Florida State College landed the #8 spot for general engineering technology value this year. Set in the suburb of Niceville, Northwest Florida State College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,583, with out-of-state students paying around $10,612. General Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $11,566 in student loans. Early-career general engineering technology graduates make about $48,463. That is a strong return on a $11,566 median debt.
Columbia State Community College came in at #9 for value in general engineering technology this year. Set in the town of Columbia, Columbia State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,948, while out-of-state students pay about $17,772. Typical student debt for general engineering technology graduates is $12,674. General Engineering Technology graduates of Columbia State Community College earn a median of $44,481 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,674 median debt.
Chattanooga State Community College came in at #10 for value in general engineering technology this year. Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chattanooga. Students from in state pay about $4,772 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,756. Typical student debt for general engineering technology graduates is $13,865. General Engineering Technology graduates of Chattanooga State Community College earn a median of $52,531 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College landed the #11 spot for general engineering technology value this year. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, while out-of-state students pay about $11,718. Students borrow a median of $16,131 to complete the general engineering technology program here. Early-career general engineering technology graduates make about $36,965. That is a strong return on a $16,131 median debt.
Lake Sumter Community College earned the #12 position for value in general engineering technology this year. Set in the suburb of Leesburg, Lake Sumter Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,292, with out-of-state students paying around $13,276. General Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $10,786 in student loans. General Engineering Technology graduates of Lake Sumter Community College earn a median of $41,764 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jackson State Community College earned the #13 position for value in general engineering technology this year. Jackson State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Jackson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,740, while out-of-state students pay about $17,724. General Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $8,553 in student loans. General Engineering Technology graduates of Jackson State Community College earn a median of $61,123 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Florida State College came in at #14 for value in general engineering technology this year. Located in the city of Melbourne, Eastern Florida State College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,791 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,976 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,123 to complete the general engineering technology program here. General Engineering Technology graduates of Eastern Florida State College earn a median of $44,690 early in their careers. Set against $18,123 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gwinnett Technical College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering technology schools. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Gwinnett Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,524, compared with $6,092 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering technology graduates is $18,048. Early-career general engineering technology graduates make about $39,288. That is a strong return on a $18,048 median debt.
Berea College earned the #16 position for value in general engineering technology this year. Located in the town of Berea, Berea College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,658. General Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $5,801 in student loans. Early-career general engineering technology graduates make about $31,428. That is a strong return on a $5,801 median debt. The acceptance rate is 19%.
Central Virginia Community College landed the #17 spot for general engineering technology value this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Central Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,157, compared with $11,595 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering technology graduates is $10,384. Early-career general engineering technology graduates make about $32,309. Set against $10,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cleveland State Community College landed the #18 spot for general engineering technology value this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,762, compared with $17,746 for out-of-state students. General Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $8,742 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering technology degree recipients from Cleveland State Community College generally make around $40,513. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Daytona State College landed the #19 spot for general engineering technology value this year. Daytona State College is a large public school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Students from in state pay about $3,106 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,994. General Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $14,227 in student loans. Early-career general engineering technology graduates make about $43,320. Set against $14,227 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Arkansas Community College came in at #20 for value in general engineering technology this year. Located in the town of El Dorado, South Arkansas Community College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,324, while out-of-state students pay about $5,532. Students borrow a median of $15,386 to complete the general engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering technology degree recipients from South Arkansas Community College generally make around $59,370. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jefferson State Community College earned the #21 position for value in general engineering technology this year. Located in the city of Birmingham, Jefferson State Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,100 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,970. General Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $15,083 in student loans. Early-career general engineering technology graduates make about $38,981. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of West Florida came in at #22 for value in general engineering technology this year. Located in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,776 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,658. Typical student debt for general engineering technology graduates is $23,000. General Engineering Technology graduates of The University Of West Florida earn a median of $63,807 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of West Florida admits about 58% of applicants.
Seminole State College Of Florida earned the #23 position for value in general engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,122, with out-of-state students paying around $11,447. General Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $18,419 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering technology degree recipients from Seminole State College Of Florida generally make around $48,049. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palm Beach State College landed the #24 spot for general engineering technology value this year. Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,050, while out-of-state students pay about $10,910. Typical student debt for general engineering technology graduates is $12,518. Soon after graduation, general engineering technology degree recipients from Palm Beach State College generally make around $42,501. That is a strong return on a $12,518 median debt.
Northern Virginia Community College landed the #25 spot for general engineering technology value this year. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,891, with out-of-state students paying around $12,410. Students borrow a median of $14,413 to complete the general engineering technology program here. General Engineering Technology graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $40,126 early in their careers. Set against $14,413 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 42 Best Value General Engineering Technology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general engineering technology value ranking:
Narrow General Engineering Technology Schools by State
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 42 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 42 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
