2027 Best Engineering Schools in North Carolina
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.
College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best engineering schools.
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Best Schools for Engineering in North Carolina
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
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. Wake Forest University awarded about 65 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Wake Forest University earn around $67,369 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
See the full engineering program report for Wake Forest University
Duke University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 768 engineering degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Duke University earn around $108,301 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,216 to complete this degree.
See the full engineering program report for Duke University
Elon University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Elon University awarded about 22 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $50,463 in their early career. Elon University graduates carry a median of $21,619 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. 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.
Read more about the engineering program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
North Carolina State University At Raleigh is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in engineering, ranking #5. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $24,572.
More information about a degree in engineering from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington came in at #6 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. Engineering graduates of University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn a median of $46,164 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,013 to complete this degree.
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Campbell University placed #7 among the best engineering schools. Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Buies Creek. About 60% of students finish within six years. Campbell University awarded about 27 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Campbell University generally make around $54,629. Typical student debt for the program is $23,641.
See the full engineering program report for Campbell University
Wake Technical Community College came in at #8 for engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public university. About 118 engineering degrees were awarded at Wake Technical Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $38,673. Wake Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $11,182 in student loans.
See the full engineering program report for Wake Technical Community College
Central Piedmont Community College placed #9 among the best engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Charlotte. About 62 engineering degrees were awarded at Central Piedmont Community College in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $40,629 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete this degree.
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East Carolina University earned the #10 position for engineering this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 108 engineering degrees were awarded at East Carolina University in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $65,758 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,978.
More information about a degree in engineering from East Carolina University
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earned the #11 position for engineering this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 619 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $70,911 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates carry a median of $23,414 in student loans.
More information about a degree in engineering from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
Gaston College earned the #12 position for engineering this year. Gaston College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Dallas. About 20 engineering degrees were awarded at Gaston College in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of Gaston College earn a median of $39,937 early in their careers. Gaston College graduates carry a median of $10,915 in student loans.
Read more about the engineering program at Gaston College
Catawba Valley Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Hickory. About 18 engineering degrees were awarded at Catawba Valley Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $38,219 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,842 to complete this degree.
Read more about the engineering program at Catawba Valley Community College
University Of North Carolina At Asheville landed the #14 spot for engineering this year. Located in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. University Of North Carolina At Asheville awarded about 19 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of University Of North Carolina At Asheville earn a median of $73,410 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
Read more about the engineering program at University Of North Carolina At Asheville
Durham Technical Community College landed the #15 spot for engineering this year. Set in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 19 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Durham Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Durham Technical Community College earn around $46,293 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,408.
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Johnston Community College earned the #16 position for engineering this year. Set in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 25 engineering degrees were awarded at Johnston Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $37,472 in their early career. Johnston Community College graduates carry a median of $9,490 in student loans.
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Forsyth Technical Community College came in at #17 for engineering this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public institution. About 15 engineering degrees were awarded at Forsyth Technical Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $38,094 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,374 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in engineering from Forsyth Technical Community College
Cape Fear Community College placed #18 among the best engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Wilmington. There were roughly 11 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Cape Fear Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Cape Fear Community College generally make around $42,889. Typical student debt for the program is $12,388.
Read more about the engineering program at Cape Fear Community College
Western Carolina University earned the #19 position for engineering this year. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. Western Carolina University graduates 60% of students within six years. About 55 engineering degrees were awarded at Western Carolina University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Western Carolina University generally make around $65,682. Western Carolina University graduates carry a median of $29,038 in student loans.
Read more about the engineering program at Western Carolina University
Methodist University came in at #20 for engineering this year. Methodist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fayetteville. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. Methodist University awarded about 12 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Methodist University earn around $56,375 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,604 to complete this degree.
Read more about the engineering program at Methodist University
Central Carolina Community College placed #21 among the best engineering schools. Set in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Central Carolina Community College awarded about 18 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Central Carolina Community College generally make around $38,198. Students borrow a median of $10,266 to complete this degree.
Read more about the engineering program at Central Carolina Community College
Fayetteville Technical Community College placed #22 among the best engineering schools. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. Fayetteville Technical Community College awarded about 17 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $40,584 in their early career. Fayetteville Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $16,909 in student loans.
More information about a degree in engineering from Fayetteville Technical Community College
Nash Community College earned the #23 position for engineering this year. Located in the rural area of Rocky Mount, Nash Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 13 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Nash Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $45,512 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,969 to complete this degree.
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Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock earned the #24 position for engineering this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Flat Rock. Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock awarded about 12 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock generally make around $42,443. Typical student debt for the program is $16,252.
More information about a degree in engineering from Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock
Mitchell Community College earned the #25 position for engineering this year. Set in the town of Statesville, Mitchell Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 11 engineering degrees were awarded at Mitchell Community College in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of Mitchell Community College earn a median of $40,450 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,313 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in engineering from Mitchell Community College
Rest of the Top 26 Engineering Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong engineering education:
More Engineering Rankings
View All Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 26 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.
