College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Most Popular Colleges for Engineering in the Southeast Region

243 Ranked Colleges
40,301 Degrees Awarded
$32,300 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 198,468 engineering students received their degree, making the major the 7th most popular in the country. In 2019-2020, engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $68,653 and had an average of $23,855 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 40,301 engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $65,769 and $24,379 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region” ranking analyzed 243 colleges that offered a degree in engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular engineering programs in the United States.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Engineering Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Engineering Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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.

Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region engineering students.

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region. This large school is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and it awarded 3,407 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus

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 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region. Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 2,631 students in 2020-2021.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read full report on Engineering at North Carolina State University

3
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Virginia Tech. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region list. Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,227 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Engineering at Virginia Tech

4
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

Out of the 243 schools in the Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Florida landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 2,403 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Engineering at University of Florida

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Central Florida. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region. Orlando, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 1,628 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 Engineering at UCF

6
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina

Clemson University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Clemson, South Carolina, this large public school handed out 1,525 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Engineering at Clemson University

7
Auburn crest
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama

Auburn University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Auburn is a large public school situated in Auburn, Alabama. It awarded 1,458 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 Engineering at Auburn University

8
UA crest
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The University of Alabama did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #8. This large school is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and it awarded 1,010 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Engineering at UA

9

With a ranking of #9, Florida International University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region list. Located in Miami, Florida, this large public school handed out 977 diplomas to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Florida International University Engineering Report

10

University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #10. USF Tampa is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 943 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Engineering at University of South Florida - Main Campus

11
Mississippi State crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

Mississippi State University ranked #11 on this year’s Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region list. This large school is located in Mississippi State, Mississippi, and it awarded 900 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Engineering at Mississippi State University

12

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region list. UT Knoxville is a public institution located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 880 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, 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 89%.

Read full report on Engineering at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

13
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region list. West Virginia University is a large school located in Morgantown, West Virginia that handed out 821 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Engineering at West Virginia University

14

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Louisiana State University is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 756 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, 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 86%.

Full Louisiana State University Engineering Report

15
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

University of Virginia - Main Campus came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region ranking. University of Virginia is a public institution located in Charlottesville, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 749 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Virginia Engineering Report

15
UARK crest
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas

With a ranking of #15, University of Arkansas did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region list. Located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, this large public school awarded 749 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Engineering at UARK

17
KSU Georgia crest
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, Georgia

Kennesaw State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region ranking. KSU Georgia is a large public school situated in Kennesaw, Georgia. It awarded 727 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full Kennesaw State University Engineering Report

18

With a ranking of #18, University of North Carolina at Charlotte did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region list. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, this large public school awarded 662 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Engineering at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

19
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

Duke University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Durham, North Carolina, and it awarded 689 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% 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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Engineering at Duke University

20

University of Alabama in Huntsville came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region ranking. University of Alabama in Huntsville is a medium-sized school located in Huntsville, Alabama that handed out 624 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full University of Alabama in Huntsville Engineering Report

21
UofL crest
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky

University of Louisville came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region ranking. This large school is located in Louisville, Kentucky, and it awarded 594 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Engineering at University of Louisville

22
UK crest
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

University of Kentucky came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Lexington, Kentucky, this large public school handed out 649 diplomas to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Engineering at UK

23

University of South Carolina - Columbia landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region ranking. University of South Carolina - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, South Carolina. It awarded 562 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Engineering at UofSC

24

Florida Institute of Technology ranked #24 on this year’s Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Melbourne, Florida, and it awarded 560 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Engineering at Florida Tech

25
Old Dominion crest
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

Old Dominion University ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region list. Old Dominion is located in Norfolk, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 530 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

Full Old Dominion Engineering Report

Rest of the Best 37 in Most Well Attended Engineering Major in the Southeast Region

Not only did these schools make the top 37 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
GMU crest
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia
27
28
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
29
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida
30
GaSou crest
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, Georgia
31
FAU crest
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida
32
33
34
NC A&T crest
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, North Carolina
35
U Miami crest
University of Miami
Coral Gables, Florida
36
37
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

Switch to a More Focused Major

General Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for General Engineering in the Southeast Region

Agricultural Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Agricultural Engineering in the Southeast Region

Biomedical Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Biomedical Engineering in the Southeast Region

Chemical Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Chemical Engineering in the Southeast Region

Computer Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Computer Engineering in the Southeast Region

Engineering Mechanics
Most Popular Colleges for Engineering Mechanics in the Southeast Region

Engineering Science
Most Popular Colleges for Engineering Science in the Southeast Region

Materials Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Materials Engineering in the Southeast Region

Metallurgical Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Metallurgical Engineering in the Southeast Region

Marine Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Marine Engineering in the Southeast Region

Ocean Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Ocean Engineering in the Southeast Region

Systems Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Systems Engineering in the Southeast Region

Polymer & Plastics Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Polymer & Plastics Engineering in the Southeast Region

Industrial Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Industrial Engineering in the Southeast Region

Operations Research
Most Popular Colleges for Operations Research in the Southeast Region

Geoscience Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Geoscience Engineering in the Southeast Region

Biochemical Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Biochemical Engineering in the Southeast Region

Biological Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Biological Engineering in the Southeast Region

Other Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Other Engineering in the Southeast Region

Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering in the Southeast Region

Architectural Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Architectural Engineering in the Southeast Region

Ceramic Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Ceramic Engineering in the Southeast Region

Civil Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Civil Engineering in the Southeast Region

Electrical Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Electrical Engineering in the Southeast Region

Engineering Physics
Most Popular Colleges for Engineering Physics in the Southeast Region

Environmental Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Environmental Engineering in the Southeast Region

Mechanical Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in the Southeast Region

Mining Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Mining Engineering in the Southeast Region

Nuclear Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Nuclear Engineering in the Southeast Region

Petroleum Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Petroleum Engineering in the Southeast Region

Textile Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Textile Engineering in the Southeast Region

Construction Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Construction Engineering in the Southeast Region

Manufacturing Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Manufacturing Engineering in the Southeast Region

Surveying Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Surveying Engineering in the Southeast Region

Robotics Engineering
Most Popular Colleges for Robotics Engineering in the Southeast Region

Engineering Chemistry
Most Popular Colleges for Engineering Chemistry in the Southeast Region

Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Most Popular Colleges for Electrical and Computer Engineering. in the Southeast Region

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options