2027 Best Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region
Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their engineering programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 149 schools to find the best for engineering students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Engineering in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall engineering education in the Southeast Region.
Top Schools in Engineering
Wake Forest University tops our 2027 ranking of the best engineering schools. Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 65 engineering degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $67,369 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
See the full engineering program report for Wake Forest University
Students looking for a strong engineering program will find one at Duke University, which ranked #2. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. There were roughly 768 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $108,301 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,216.
More information about a degree in engineering from Duke University
Washington And Lee University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in engineering, ranking #3. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lexington. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Washington And Lee University awarded about 26 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of Washington And Lee University earn a median of $76,810 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,074 to complete this degree.
Get the full engineering details for Washington And Lee University
Students looking for a strong engineering program will find one at Elon University, which ranked #4. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 22 engineering degrees were awarded at Elon University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Elon University generally make around $50,463. Students borrow a median of $21,619 to complete this degree.
Read more about the engineering program at Elon University
Vanderbilt University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 346 engineering degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $74,902 in their early career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $16,167 in student loans.
See the full engineering program report for Vanderbilt University
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #6 among the best engineering schools. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. About 3,955 engineering degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn around $89,524 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,493.
Get the full engineering details for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #7 spot for engineering this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 199 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $70,561. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
See the full engineering program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 825 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $85,626. Typical student debt for the program is $15,838.
Read more about the engineering program at University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of Florida earned the #9 position for engineering this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. About 2,451 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from University Of Florida earn around $84,539 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $20,748 in student loans.
Read more about the engineering program at University Of Florida
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #10 spot for engineering this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 2,613 engineering students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $86,523. Students borrow a median of $24,572 to complete this degree.
See the full engineering program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
James Madison University earned the #11 position for engineering this year. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. James Madison University awarded about 78 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $71,176 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 2,327 engineering degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $80,574 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,739.
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John Tyler Community College earned the #13 position for engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public university. John Tyler Community College awarded about 30 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $36,623 in their early career. John Tyler Community College graduates carry a median of $11,262 in student loans.
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Eastern Mennonite University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, Eastern Mennonite University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 engineering degrees were awarded at Eastern Mennonite University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Eastern Mennonite University generally make around $55,325. Typical student debt for the program is $25,415.
More information about a degree in engineering from Eastern Mennonite University
Auburn University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Auburn. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Auburn University awarded about 1,391 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Auburn University earn around $73,718 in the first couple years of their career. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $23,167 in student loans.
More information about a degree in engineering from Auburn University
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington came in at #16 for engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Wilmington. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. About 13 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn around $46,164 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,013.
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George Mason University came in at #17 for engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 584 engineering students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $88,691 in their early career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $25,093 in student loans.
Read more about the engineering program at George Mason University
Clemson University placed #18 among the best engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Clemson University awarded about 1,439 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $72,840 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,444.
More information about a degree in engineering from Clemson University
Campbell University placed #19 among the best engineering schools. Set in the town of Buies Creek, Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Campbell University graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Campbell University in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of Campbell University earn a median of $54,629 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,641.
More information about a degree in engineering from Campbell University
Randolph Macon College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Ashland, Randolph Macon College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 engineering degrees were awarded at Randolph Macon College in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $40,317 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,706.
See the full engineering program report for Randolph Macon College
University Of Georgia landed the #21 spot for engineering this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Georgia awarded about 538 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $73,641. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $23,894 in student loans.
See the full engineering program report for University Of Georgia
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #22 among the best engineering schools. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public university. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College graduates 66% of students within six years. About 695 engineering degrees were awarded at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College generally make around $69,970. Typical student debt for the program is $22,180.
See the full engineering program report for Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
Bellarmine University landed the #23 spot for engineering this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Louisville. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bellarmine University awarded about 11 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Bellarmine University generally make around $46,024. Students borrow a median of $26,766 to complete this degree.
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Northern Virginia Community College landed the #24 spot for engineering this year. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Annandale. Northern Virginia Community College awarded about 230 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $16,790 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree.
See the full engineering program report for Northern Virginia Community College
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus placed #25 among the best engineering schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Magnolia. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates 44% of students within six years. About 21 engineering degrees were awarded at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $41,723 in their early career. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,385 in student loans.
Get the full engineering details for Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s engineering ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 149 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.