2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in North Carolina
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools to find the best return on investment for general engineering students.
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2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Engineering Schools
For return on investment in general engineering, no school beat Durham Technical Community College this year. Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. In-state tuition and fees average $2,240, with out-of-state students paying around $7,531. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $20,408. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Durham Technical Community College generally make around $46,293. Set against $20,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Johnston Community College earned it the #2 place for general engineering. Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Smithfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,756, with out-of-state students paying around $8,900. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,490 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Johnston Community College generally make around $37,472. 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 Piedmont Community College, which ranked #3. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $40,629. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Nash Community College one of the best values for general engineering. Set in the rural area of Rocky Mount, Nash Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,866, while out-of-state students pay about $8,866. Students borrow a median of $16,969 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Nash Community College earn a median of $45,512 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fayetteville Technical Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,628, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. Students borrow a median of $16,909 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $40,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Carolina Community College landed the #6 spot for general engineering value this year. Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Sanford. 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. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $38,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gaston College earned the #7 position for value in general engineering this year. Gaston College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Dallas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,186, compared with $9,330 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,915 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $39,937. Set against $10,915 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock came in at #8 for value in general engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Flat Rock, Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,804. Students borrow a median of $16,252 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock earn a median of $42,443 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mitchell Community College came in at #9 for value in general engineering this year. Mitchell Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Statesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,651, with out-of-state students paying around $8,795. Students borrow a median of $6,313 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Mitchell Community College earn a median of $40,450 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Forsyth Technical Community College came in at #10 for value in general engineering this year. Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Winston-Salem. In-state tuition and fees average $2,276, with out-of-state students paying around $6,884. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,374 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $38,094. That is a strong return on a $16,374 median debt.
Wake Technical Community College placed #11 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,254, with out-of-state students paying around $6,862. 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.
Cape Fear Community College came in at #12 for value in general engineering this year. Located in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,748, with out-of-state students paying around $8,892. Students borrow a median of $12,388 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $42,889. Set against $12,388 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Catawba Valley Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the city of Hickory, Catawba Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,427 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,803. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $9,842. General Engineering graduates of Catawba Valley Community College earn a median of $38,219 early in their careers. Set against $9,842 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville landed the #14 spot for general engineering value this year. Set in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,501, compared with $24,849 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $73,410. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Western Carolina University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,630, compared with $8,630 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,550 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median of $62,244 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
East Carolina University landed the #16 spot for general engineering value this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,361, with out-of-state students paying around $23,638. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $26,978. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $65,758. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #17 position for value in general engineering this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $30,518. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $93,349. That is a strong return on a $30,518 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Campbell University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the town of Buies Creek, Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,600. Students borrow a median of $23,641 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Campbell University earn a median of $54,629 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,641 median debt. Campbell University admits about 87% of applicants.
Wake Forest University placed #19 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,642 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $21,577. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $67,369. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
Elon University placed #20 among the best values for general engineering. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,958. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $21,619. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Elon University generally make around $50,463. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
More General Engineering Rankings
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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 · 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.
