by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their general engineering graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 23 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying general engineering schools.
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If you want to know which schools send general engineering graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in general engineering, no school beat Chattanooga State Community College this year. Set in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a public institution. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from Chattanooga State Community College typically earn about $82,823 annually.
Virginia Western Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in general engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Virginia Western Community College is a public school located in the city of Roanoke. Early-career general engineering graduates from Virginia Western Community College make a median of around $76,297 per year.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Virginia Main Campus one of the highest-paying schools for general engineering. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career general engineering graduates from University Of Virginia Main Campus make a median of around $86,699 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Wake Technical Community College earned it the #4 place for general engineering. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,552.
Mcneese State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in general engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Mcneese State University is a public school located in the city of Lake Charles. General Engineering graduates of Mcneese State University earn a median of about $99,434 a year early in their careers.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earned the #6 position for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a public institution. General Engineering graduates of J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earn a median of about $74,135 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville earned the #7 position for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a public institution. Early-career general engineering graduates from University Of North Carolina At Asheville make a median of around $91,514 per year.
Thomas Nelson Community College came in at #8 for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Thomas Nelson Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Hampton. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from Thomas Nelson Community College typically earn about $73,384 annually.
Mercer University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general engineering schools. Mercer University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Macon. General Engineering graduates of Mercer University earn a median of about $88,497 a year early in their careers.
Tidewater Community College earned the #10 position for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Tidewater Community College is a public school located in the city of Norfolk. General Engineering graduates of Tidewater Community College earn a median of about $79,752 a year early in their careers.
James Madison University earned the #11 position for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a public institution. Early-career general engineering graduates from James Madison University make a median of around $88,212 per year.
East Mississippi Community College came in at #12 for general engineering graduate earnings this year. East Mississippi Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Scooba. Early-career general engineering graduates from East Mississippi Community College make a median of around $70,376 per year.
University Of Arkansas earned the #13 position for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a public institution. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from University Of Arkansas typically earn about $109,446 annually.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham landed the #14 spot for general engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public institution. General Engineering graduates of University Of Alabama At Birmingham earn a median of about $128,123 a year early in their careers.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #15 spot for general engineering salaries this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public school located in the city of Raleigh. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $82,089.
East Carolina University came in at #16 for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a public institution. Early-career general engineering graduates from East Carolina University make a median of around $85,744 per year.
Itawamba Community College earned the #17 position for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Itawamba Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Fulton. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from Itawamba Community College typically earn about $67,077 annually.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for general engineering. Set in the city of Lafayette, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a public institution. Early-career general engineering graduates from University Of Louisiana Lafayette make a median of around $104,079 per year.
The University Of Tennessee Martin placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for general engineering. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a public institution. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $77,653.
Old Dominion University landed the #20 spot for general engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a public institution. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from Old Dominion University typically earn about $96,590 annually.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College earned the #21 position for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,925.
Western Carolina University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general engineering schools. Western Carolina University is a public school located in the town of Cullowhee. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,244.
Northern Virginia Community College earned the #23 position for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $83,194.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their general engineering graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 23 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.