2026 Best Value General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked Central Piedmont Community College the best value for a degree in general engineering in the Southeast Region. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $40,629 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Copiah Lincoln Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Copiah Lincoln Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Wesson. Students from in state pay about $4,200 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,200. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $31,241.
Johnston Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Set in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,756, compared with $8,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $9,490. General Engineering graduates of Johnston Community College earn a median of $37,472 early in their careers. Set against $9,490 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general engineering will find it at Central Carolina Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,711 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,855. Students borrow a median of $10,266 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Central Carolina Community College generally make around $38,198. Set against $10,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general engineering will find it at J Sargeant Reynolds Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, while out-of-state students pay about $11,718. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earn a median of $36,965 early in their careers. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
John Tyler Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,082, with out-of-state students paying around $11,520. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,262 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of John Tyler Community College earn a median of $36,623 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
East Mississippi Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the rural area of Scooba, East Mississippi Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,095, while out-of-state students pay about $7,445. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $9,422. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from East Mississippi Community College generally make around $34,012. Set against $9,422 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Itawamba Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Itawamba Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Fulton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,420, with out-of-state students paying around $5,820. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,942 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Itawamba Community College earn a median of $40,832 early in their careers. Set against $10,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Virginia Western Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Set in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,400, while out-of-state students pay about $11,838. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $13,715. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Virginia Western Community College generally make around $36,245. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midlands Technical College earned the #10 position for value in general engineering this year. Located in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,100, with out-of-state students paying around $14,700. Students borrow a median of $17,611 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Midlands Technical College earn a median of $39,610 early in their careers. Set against $17,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lord Fairfax Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the rural area of Middletown, Lord Fairfax Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,072, while out-of-state students pay about $11,510. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $10,698. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Lord Fairfax Community College generally make around $37,531. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cape Fear Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Set in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,748 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,892 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,388 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $42,889. Set against $12,388 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chattanooga State Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,772, while out-of-state students pay about $17,756. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $16,500. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Chattanooga State Community College generally make around $37,252. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gaston College placed #14 among the best values for general engineering. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Gaston College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,186, with out-of-state students paying around $9,330. Students borrow a median of $10,915 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Gaston College earn a median of $39,937 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Piedmont Virginia Community College earned the #15 position for value in general engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, Piedmont Virginia Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,072, with out-of-state students paying around $11,510. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,495 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $46,129. That is a strong return on a $12,495 median debt.
Germanna Community College landed the #16 spot for general engineering value this year. Set in the rural area of Locust Grove, Germanna Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,257 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,648. Students borrow a median of $10,999 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $41,880. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wake Technical Community College came in at #17 for value in general engineering this year. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh. In-state tuition and fees average $2,254, compared with $6,862 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,182 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $38,673. That is a strong return on a $11,182 median debt.
Forsyth Technical Community College came in at #18 for value in general engineering this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,276 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,884. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,374 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $38,094. Set against $16,374 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Virginia Community College placed #19 among the best values for general engineering. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Annandale. In-state tuition and fees average $5,891, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Northern Virginia Community College generally make around $16,790. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Tidewater Community College landed the #20 spot for general engineering value this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,858, while out-of-state students pay about $12,296. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Tidewater Community College generally make around $68,555. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Thomas Nelson Community College placed #21 among the best values for general engineering. Located in the suburb of Hampton, Thomas Nelson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,088, while out-of-state students pay about $11,526. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $14,402. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Thomas Nelson Community College generally make around $36,758. Set against $14,402 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Daytona State College placed #22 among the best values for general engineering. Daytona State College is a large public school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,106, while out-of-state students pay about $11,994. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $14,227 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $43,320. That is a strong return on a $14,227 median debt.
The University Of West Florida earned the #23 position for value in general engineering 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. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,677 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $47,141. That is a strong return on a $19,677 median debt. The University Of West Florida admits about 58% of applicants.
Potomac State College Of West Virginia University came in at #24 for value in general engineering this year. Set in the town of Keyser, Potomac State College Of West Virginia University is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, compared with $13,200 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,858 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Potomac State College Of West Virginia University generally make around $42,670. That is a strong return on a $19,858 median debt.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College placed #25 among the best values for general engineering. Located in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,250 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,850. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $8,250. General Engineering graduates of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College earn a median of $34,214 early in their careers. Set against $8,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Engineering Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in general engineering:
Narrow General Engineering Schools by State
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 160 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 32 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.
[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
