2027 Best Pre-Engineering Schools in North Carolina
Pre-Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their pre-engineering programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for pre-engineering students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Pre-Engineering in North Carolina
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the pre-engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Pre-Engineering
Leading the list is Wake Technical Community College, our #1 school for pre-engineering. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 118 pre-engineering students who graduated with this degree at Wake Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Pre-Engineering graduates of Wake Technical Community College earn a median of $38,673 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,182.
See the full pre-engineering program report for Wake Technical Community College
Central Piedmont Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in pre-engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. There were roughly 47 pre-engineering students who graduated with this degree at Central Piedmont Community College in the most recent data year. Pre-Engineering graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $40,629 early in their careers. Central Piedmont Community College graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans.
See the full pre-engineering program report for Central Piedmont Community College
Gaston College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in pre-engineering, ranking #3. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Gaston College is a moderately-sized public institution. Gaston College awarded about 18 pre-engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their pre-engineering degree from Gaston College earn around $39,937 in the first couple years of their career. Gaston College graduates carry a median of $10,915 in student loans.
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Catawba Valley Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in pre-engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Hickory, Catawba Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 18 pre-engineering degrees were awarded at Catawba Valley Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their pre-engineering degree from Catawba Valley Community College earn around $38,219 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,842 to complete this degree.
See the full pre-engineering program report for Catawba Valley Community College
Durham Technical Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best pre-engineering schools. Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. There were roughly 19 pre-engineering students who graduated with this degree at Durham Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, pre-engineering degree recipients from Durham Technical Community College generally make around $46,293. Durham Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $20,408 in student loans.
Get the full pre-engineering details for Durham Technical Community College
Johnston Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best pre-engineering schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Smithfield. Johnston Community College awarded about 25 pre-engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their pre-engineering degree from Johnston Community College earn around $37,472 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,490.
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Forsyth Technical Community College placed #7 among the best pre-engineering schools. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public university. About 15 pre-engineering degrees were awarded at Forsyth Technical Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, pre-engineering degree recipients from Forsyth Technical Community College generally make around $38,094. Students borrow a median of $16,374 to complete this degree.
Get the full pre-engineering details for Forsyth Technical Community College
Cape Fear Community College came in at #8 for pre-engineering this year. Cape Fear Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. Cape Fear Community College awarded about 11 pre-engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the pre-engineering program make about $42,889 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,388 to complete this degree.
Get the full pre-engineering details for Cape Fear Community College
Central Carolina Community College earned the #9 position for pre-engineering this year. Located in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Central Carolina Community College awarded about 18 pre-engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their pre-engineering degree from Central Carolina Community College earn around $38,198 in the first couple years of their career. Central Carolina Community College graduates carry a median of $10,266 in student loans.
More information about a degree in pre-engineering from Central Carolina Community College
Fayetteville Technical Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best pre-engineering schools. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 17 pre-engineering students who graduated with this degree at Fayetteville Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, pre-engineering degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. Fayetteville Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $16,909 in student loans.
See the full pre-engineering program report for Fayetteville Technical Community College
Nash Community College earned the #11 position for pre-engineering this year. Located in the rural area of Rocky Mount, Nash Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 13 pre-engineering students who graduated with this degree at Nash Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their pre-engineering degree from Nash Community College earn around $45,512 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,969.
Get the full pre-engineering details for Nash Community College
Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock earned the #12 position for pre-engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Flat Rock, Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 12 pre-engineering students who graduated with this degree at Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock in the most recent data year. Graduates of the pre-engineering program make about $42,443 in their early career. Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock graduates carry a median of $16,252 in student loans.
Get the full pre-engineering details for Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock
Mitchell Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best pre-engineering schools. Mitchell Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Statesville. Mitchell Community College awarded about 11 pre-engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the pre-engineering program make about $40,450 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,313 to complete this degree.
Get the full pre-engineering details for Mitchell Community College
More Pre-Engineering Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 13 schools evaluated.
- 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.
