2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering/Mechanical Technology/Technician Schools in the Southeast Region
[Mechanical Engineering/Mechanical Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/mechanical-engineering-technology/mechanical-engineering-mechanical-technology-technician/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools to find the best return on investment for mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician students.
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2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering/Mechanical Technology/Technician Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Mechanical Engineering/Mechanical Technology/Technician Schools
Wayne Community College earned the #1 spot for value among mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician schools in the Southeast Region. Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Goldsboro. In-state tuition and fees average $2,566, with out-of-state students paying around $8,710. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician program here. Early-career mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician graduates make about $33,116. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Central Piedmont Community College one of the best values for mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician graduates is $11,861. Early-career mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician graduates make about $40,629. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pensacola State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician, landing the #3 spot this year. Pensacola State College is a large public school located in the city of Pensacola. Students from in state pay about $2,361 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,463 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician program here. Early-career mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician graduates make about $45,811. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florence Darlington Technical College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician schools. Located in the rural area of Florence, Florence Darlington Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,636, with out-of-state students paying around $6,772. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician graduates is $7,230. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician degree recipients from Florence Darlington Technical College generally make around $34,948. That is a strong return on a $7,230 median debt.
Cleveland State Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician, landing the #5 spot this year. Cleveland State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Cleveland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,762, while out-of-state students pay about $17,746. Mechanical Engineering/mechanical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,742 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician graduates make about $40,513. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Alamance Community College came in at #6 for value in mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician this year. Alamance Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Graham. In-state tuition and fees average $2,592, while out-of-state students pay about $8,736. Mechanical Engineering/mechanical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician degree recipients from Alamance Community College generally make around $37,585. Set against $6,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Beaufort County Community College came in at #7 for value in mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician this year. Beaufort County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Washington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,540, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician graduates is $7,947. Mechanical Engineering/mechanical Technology/technician graduates of Beaufort County Community College earn a median of $38,009 early in their careers. Set against $7,947 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mitchell Community College landed the #8 spot for mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician value this year. Located in the town of Statesville, Mitchell Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,651 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,795. Mechanical Engineering/mechanical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $6,313 in student loans. Mechanical Engineering/mechanical Technology/technician graduates of Mitchell Community College earn a median of $40,450 early in their careers. Set against $6,313 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ogeechee Technical College came in at #9 for value in mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician this year. Set in the town of Statesboro, Ogeechee Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,388, with out-of-state students paying around $5,956. Students borrow a median of $11,894 to complete the mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician program here. Early-career mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician graduates make about $35,521. That is a strong return on a $11,894 median debt.
Pitt Community College placed #10 among the best values for mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician. Pitt Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Winterville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,871, compared with $13,087 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician graduates is $19,741. Mechanical Engineering/mechanical Technology/technician graduates of Pitt Community College earn a median of $43,022 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wake Technical Community College came in at #11 for value in mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,254, with out-of-state students paying around $6,862. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician graduates is $17,900. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $38,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fairmont State University came in at #12 for value in mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician this year. Set in the town of Fairmont, Fairmont State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,708, with out-of-state students paying around $18,924. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician degree recipients from Fairmont State University generally make around $54,410. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fairmont State University admits about 99% of applicants.
South Georgia State College earned the #13 position for value in mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician this year. Set in the town of Douglas, South Georgia State College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,314, compared with $10,274 for out-of-state students. Mechanical Engineering/mechanical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $17,518 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician degree recipients from South Georgia State College generally make around $50,931. Set against $17,518 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Catawba Valley Community College earned the #14 position for value in mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Hickory, Catawba Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,427, compared with $7,803 for out-of-state students. Mechanical Engineering/mechanical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,842 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician graduates make about $38,219. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College earned the #15 position for value in mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Asheville, Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,882, compared with $9,026 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician graduates is $18,883. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician degree recipients from Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College generally make around $37,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Guilford Technical Community College came in at #16 for value in mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of Jamestown, Guilford Technical Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,320, while out-of-state students pay about $7,696. Students borrow a median of $20,501 to complete the mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician program here. Mechanical Engineering/mechanical Technology/technician graduates of Guilford Technical Community College earn a median of $36,124 early in their careers. Set against $20,501 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kennesaw State University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician schools. Set in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,808 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,736. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician graduates is $25,500. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician degree recipients from Kennesaw State University generally make around $64,339. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte landed the #18 spot for mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician value this year. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,239, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician program here. Early-career mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician graduates make about $60,048. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock landed the #19 spot for mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician value this year. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public school located in the city of Little Rock. Students from in state pay about $9,911 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,721 for out-of-state students. Mechanical Engineering/mechanical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $27,093 in student loans. Mechanical Engineering/mechanical Technology/technician graduates of University Of Arkansas At Little Rock earn a median of $47,170 early in their careers. Set against $27,093 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock admits about 59% of applicants.
Ecpi University placed #20 among the best values for mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician. Ecpi University is a large private for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,484. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician graduates is $29,810. Early-career mechanical engineering/mechanical technology/technician graduates make about $64,003. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
