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2023 Best Value Colleges for General Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

37 Ranked Colleges
1,996 Degrees Awarded
$10,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

General Engineering is the 96th most popular major in the country with 9,018 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

Across the Southeast region, there were 1,996 general engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 37 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general engineering programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general engineering program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank General Engineering Schools

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

1
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Vanderbilt University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Vanderbilt University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 10 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Vanderbilt also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Vanderbilt is $3,176 for southeast region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Full Vanderbilt University General Engineering Report

2
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Carolina State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. North Carolina State University is a large school located in Raleigh, North Carolina that handed out 52 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

NC State also took the #2 spot in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $7,283 for southeast region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend North Carolina State University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Engineering at North Carolina State University

3
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Georgia. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Georgia is located in Athens, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

UGA also made our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $8,303 for Southeast Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Georgia.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Georgia General Engineering Report

4
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend West Virginia University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Morgantown, West Virginia, and it awarded 41 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, WVU has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $10,014 for Southeast Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend WVU.

Full West Virginia University General Engineering Report

5
UARK crest
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Arkansas. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UARK is a large public school situated in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It awarded 106 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

UARK also made our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend University of Arkansas is $12,003 for Southeast Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full University of Arkansas General Engineering Report

6
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Charlottesville, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.

University of Virginia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus is $12,476 for Southeast Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Virginia General Engineering Report

7
Mississippi State crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

Mississippi State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Mississippi State University is a large school located in Mississippi State, Mississippi that handed out 36 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Mississippi State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $13,025 for southeast region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Mississippi State.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Engineering at Mississippi State University

8
Louisiana Tech crest
Louisiana Tech University
Ruston, Louisiana

Louisiana Tech University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Louisiana Tech is located in Ruston, Louisiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 36 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southeast region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, Louisiana Tech has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Louisiana Tech is $8,257 for Southeast Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Louisiana Tech University General Engineering Report

9

With a ranking of #9, The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, this fairly large public school handed out 23 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.

UT Chattanooga did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UT Chattanooga is $8,625 for southeast region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Engineering at The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga

10
Old Dominion crest
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

Old Dominion University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Old Dominion is located in Norfolk, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 113 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

Old Dominion did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Old Dominion University is $13,335 for Southeast Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Old Dominion University General Engineering Report

11
Ole Miss crest
University of Mississippi
University, Mississippi

With a ranking of #11, University of Mississippi did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ole Miss is a large public school situated in University, Mississippi. It awarded 20 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Ole Miss also took the #20 spot in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Mississippi is $7,764 for southeast region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full University of Mississippi General Engineering Report

12
Marshall University crest
Marshall University
Huntington, West Virginia

Marshall University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Marshall University is a public institution located in Huntington, West Virginia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $5,377 for Southeast Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Marshall University.

Full Marshall University General Engineering Report

13

Tennessee Technological University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Tennessee Tech University is a public institution located in Cookeville, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Tennessee Tech University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Tennessee Technological University is $11,561 for southeast region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Tennessee Technological University General Engineering Report

14
ECU crest
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina

East Carolina University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Greenville, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 102 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.

ECU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend ECU is $11,260 for Southeast Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about General Engineering at East Carolina University

15
McNeese crest
McNeese State University
Lake Charles, Louisiana

McNeese State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. McNeese State University is a public institution located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 70 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, McNeese has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend McNeese is $7,542 for Southeast Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Engineering at McNeese

16

University of North Carolina at Asheville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. UNCA is a small public school situated in Asheville, North Carolina. It awarded 28 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNCA has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $8,677 for Southeast Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNCA.

Read full report on General Engineering at UNCA

17
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

James Madison University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Harrisonburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 76 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at JMU, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $14,288 for Southeast Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend JMU.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full JMU General Engineering Report

18
Christian Brothers crest
Christian Brothers University
Memphis, Tennessee

Christian Brothers University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Christian Brothers is a private not-for-profit institution located in Memphis, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Christian Brothers also made our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #23. The yearly cost to attend Christian Brothers is $9,719 for Southeast Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Engineering at Christian Brothers University

19
WCU crest
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, North Carolina

With a ranking of #19, Western Carolina University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cullowhee, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 29 students in 2020-2021.

WCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend WCU is $9,305 for Southeast Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full WCU General Engineering Report

20

University of Alabama at Birmingham came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Birmingham, Alabama, this large public school handed out 143 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, UAB has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UAB is $13,443 for southeast region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Engineering at UAB

21

With a ranking of #21, University of Alabama in Huntsville did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UAH is a medium-sized public school situated in Huntsville, Alabama. It awarded 76 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

UAH also made our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $13,631 for southeast region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UAH.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Engineering at UAH

22
Mercer crest
Mercer University
Macon, Georgia

Mercer University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Mercer University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Macon, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 116 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Mercer not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mercer University is $16,024 for southeast region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Engineering at Mercer

23
UofM crest
University of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee

With a ranking of #23, University of Memphis did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UofM is a public institution located in Memphis, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $11,084 for Southeast Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Memphis.

Full University of Memphis General Engineering Report

24

The University of Tennessee - Martin did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. Martin, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $8,248 for southeast region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UT Martin.

Read more about General Engineering at The University of Tennessee - Martin

25

University of Louisiana at Lafayette came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Lafayette, Louisiana, and it awarded 25 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Louisiana at Lafayette is $9,990 for Southeast Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Engineering at University of Louisiana at Lafayette

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