2026 Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools in North Carolina
[Electrical Engineering](/majors/engineering/ee-electrical-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for electrical engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools in North Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the electrical engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools
Leading the list is North Carolina A And T State University, our #1 best value for electrical engineering in North Carolina. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,813, compared with $20,673 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $28,614. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $81,213. That is a strong return on a $28,614 median debt. North Carolina A And T State University admits about 50% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Western Carolina University one of the best values for electrical engineering. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. Students from in state pay about $4,630 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,630 for out-of-state students. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Western Carolina University generally make around $69,067. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,239, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,375 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Electrical Engineering graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $72,167 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,375 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $85,887. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Duke University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in electrical engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $13,296. Electrical Engineering graduates of Duke University earn a median of $83,388 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,296 median debt. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
