2026 Best Value Engineering Technologies Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the engineering technologies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Engineering Technologies Schools
For return on investment in engineering technologies, no school beat Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College this year. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,396 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $60,381. Set against $8,396 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida State College At Jacksonville is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering technologies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,657, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Students borrow a median of $19,139 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $46,748. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in engineering technologies will find it at Seminole State College Of Florida, which ranked #3. Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Sanford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,122, while out-of-state students pay about $11,447. Students borrow a median of $17,933 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $37,747. Set against $17,933 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Located in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $5,868. Students borrow a median of $8,492 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Engineering Technologies graduates of Georgia Northwestern Technical College earn a median of $41,229 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in engineering technologies will find it at Central Carolina Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,711, while out-of-state students pay about $8,855. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $10,266 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Central Carolina Community College generally make around $38,198. Set against $10,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Georgia Technical College earned the #6 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the town of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,992, compared with $7,202 for out-of-state students. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $10,423 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from South Georgia Technical College generally make around $40,497. That is a strong return on a $10,423 median debt.
Trident Technical College placed #7 among the best values for engineering technologies. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,546, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $18,116. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pensacola State College landed the #8 spot for engineering technologies value this year. Pensacola State College is a large public school located in the city of Pensacola. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,361, with out-of-state students paying around $9,463. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $9,191. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $45,811. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Petersburg College came in at #9 for value in engineering technologies this year. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,682, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $24,385. Engineering Technologies graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $55,598 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hinds Community College came in at #10 for value in engineering technologies this year. Hinds Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Raymond. Students from in state pay about $4,250 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,385 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Hinds Community College generally make around $34,003. That is a strong return on a $16,385 median debt.
George C Wallace State Community College Dothan landed the #11 spot for engineering technologies value this year. Located in the city of Dothan, George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,980, with out-of-state students paying around $8,850. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $9,942. Engineering Technologies graduates of George C Wallace State Community College Dothan earn a median of $34,762 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida Gateway College landed the #12 spot for engineering technologies value this year. Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Lake City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,100, compared with $11,747 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $8,669. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $41,947. Set against $8,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Georgia Technical College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Set in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,410, compared with $5,978 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $12,651. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $39,922. That is a strong return on a $12,651 median debt.
Central Piedmont Community College placed #14 among the best values for engineering technologies. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Engineering Technologies graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $40,629 early in their careers. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wilkes Community College earned the #15 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Located in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,572, compared with $8,716 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,125 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $36,341. Set against $9,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Copiah Lincoln Community College earned the #16 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Located in the rural area of Wesson, Copiah Lincoln Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,200, while out-of-state students pay about $5,200. Graduates go on to earn a median of $31,241 ten years after entry.
Cleveland Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Located in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,602, while out-of-state students pay about $8,746. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $7,131 in student loans. Engineering Technologies graduates of Cleveland Community College earn a median of $39,891 early in their careers. Set against $7,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Patrick Henry Community College placed #18 among the best values for engineering technologies. Patrick Henry Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Martinsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,002, compared with $11,440 for out-of-state students. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $11,235 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Patrick Henry Community College generally make around $33,358. That is a strong return on a $11,235 median debt.
Gulf Coast State College came in at #19 for value in engineering technologies this year. Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Panama City. Students from in state pay about $2,370 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,635. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $8,286 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $49,086. Set against $8,286 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Alabama Community College came in at #20 for value in engineering technologies this year. Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rainsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $8,910. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $7,459. Engineering Technologies graduates of Northeast Alabama Community College earn a median of $35,119 early in their careers. Set against $7,459 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Somerset Community College earned the #21 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Located in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $13,722 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Engineering Technologies graduates of Somerset Community College earn a median of $35,340 early in their careers. Set against $13,722 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pellissippi State Community College placed #22 among the best values for engineering technologies. Set in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,786, while out-of-state students pay about $17,770. Students borrow a median of $6,685 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Pellissippi State Community College generally make around $46,531. Set against $6,685 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florence Darlington Technical College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Located in the rural area of Florence, Florence Darlington Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,636, with out-of-state students paying around $6,772. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $7,230. Engineering Technologies graduates of Florence Darlington Technical College earn a median of $34,948 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Johnston Community College came in at #24 for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,756, compared with $8,900 for out-of-state students. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $9,490 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $37,472. Set against $9,490 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fayetteville Technical Community College earned the #25 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,628 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $16,909 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. That is a strong return on a $16,909 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Engineering Technologies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s engineering technologies value ranking:
Narrow Engineering Technologies Schools by State
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 446 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 85 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.
[Engineering Technologies](/majors/engineering-technologies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
