2026 Best Value General Engineering Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked Central Piedmont Community College the best value for a degree in general engineering in North Carolina. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $40,629 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Central Carolina Community College one of the best values for general engineering. Set in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,711, while out-of-state students pay about $8,855. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,266 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $38,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Johnston Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general engineering, landing the #3 spot 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. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,490 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Johnston Community College earn a median of $37,472 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Gaston College one of the best values for general engineering. Gaston College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $3,186 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,330 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,915 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Gaston College generally make around $39,937. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Cape Fear Community College one of the best values for general engineering. Cape Fear Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,748, compared with $8,892 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,388 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Cape Fear Community College earn a median of $42,889 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,388 median debt.
Forsyth Technical Community College came in at #6 for value in general engineering this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,276, while out-of-state students pay about $6,884. Students borrow a median of $16,374 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Forsyth Technical Community College earn a median of $38,094 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,374 median debt.
Wake Technical Community College placed #7 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,254, while out-of-state students pay about $6,862. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $11,182. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $38,673. Set against $11,182 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Carolina University earned the #8 position for value in general engineering this year. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,630, with out-of-state students paying around $8,630. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,550 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median of $62,244 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,550 median debt. Western Carolina University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville came in at #9 for value in general engineering this year. Located in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,501 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,849 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Asheville generally make around $73,410. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Guilford Technical Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Jamestown, Guilford Technical Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,320, with out-of-state students paying around $7,696. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,501 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Guilford Technical Community College generally make around $36,124. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
East Carolina University earned the #11 position for value in general engineering this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,978 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $65,758. Set against $26,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #12 for value in general engineering this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $30,518. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $93,349. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
Campbell University placed #13 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the town of Buies Creek, Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,600. Students borrow a median of $23,641 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Campbell University generally make around $54,629. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Wake Forest University placed #14 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,642. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $67,369. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
Elon University landed the #15 spot for general engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $46,958 in tuition and fees. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,619 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Elon University earn a median of $50,463 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,619 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 45 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
