2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in North Carolina
[Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value mechanical engineering schools.
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2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in North Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the mechanical engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked North Carolina A And T State University the best value for a degree in mechanical 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, while out-of-state students pay about $20,673. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $29,822 in student loans. Mechanical Engineering graduates of North Carolina A And T State University earn a median of $72,278 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,822 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earned it the #2 place for mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $69,178. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned it the #3 place for mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $24,250. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $82,274. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in mechanical engineering will find it at Duke University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,758. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $10,000. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $89,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
