Best colleges for Engineering in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
North Carolina State University at Raleigh, East Carolina University and Western Carolina University are the top bachelor's Engineering programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. North Carolina State University at Raleigh leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $71,769, College Scorecard. Wake Technical Community College, East Carolina University and Central Piedmont Community College award the most Engineering degrees in North Carolina: 118, 75 and 47 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 42 North Carolina colleges offer Engineering and award 693 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Engineering program, formally known as Engineering, General, encompasses a broad range of disciplines that apply scientific theories and mathematical methods to develop technological solutions. This program is ideal for students…
Top 4 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,769 | 41 | 85% | — | $30,518 |
| 2 | East Carolina University Greenville Public · Bachelor's degree | $65,758 | 75 | 63% | — | $26,978 |
| 3 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,244 | 35 | 60% | — | $25,550 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $73,410 | 19 | 54% | — | $31,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Engineering degrees in North Carolina
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wake Technical Community College Raleigh Public | 118 | Not reported |
| 2 | East Carolina University Greenville Public | 75 | $65,758 |
| 3 | Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte Public | 47 | Not reported |
| 4 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem Private not-for-profit | 46 | Not reported |
| 5 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public | 41 | $71,769 |
| 6 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public | 35 | $62,244 |
| 7 | Campbell University Buies Creek Private not-for-profit | 27 | Not reported |
| 8 | Johnston Community College Smithfield Public | 25 | Not reported |
| 9 | Elon University Elon Private not-for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
| 10 | Durham Technical Community College Durham Public | 19 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 32 North Carolina colleges offering Engineering
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Engineers, All Other (SOC 17-2199).
What Engineers, All Other earn in North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Engineering programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most Engineering degrees?+
Wake Technical Community College (118 graduates a year), East Carolina University (75 graduates a year) and Central Piedmont Community College (47 graduates a year) award the most Engineering degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 42 North Carolina colleges offer Engineering.
What is the best college for Engineering in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, North Carolina State University at Raleigh leads among bachelor's Engineering programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $71,769, College Scorecard. East Carolina University and Western Carolina University follow. By degrees awarded, Wake Technical Community College is the largest, with 118 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Engineering program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, North Carolina State University at Raleigh tops the list at $71,769. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Engineers, All Other earn in North Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Engineers, All Other in North Carolina is $117,080 (median $112,450), across about 4,270 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Engineering program?+
The Engineering program, formally known as Engineering, General, encompasses a broad range of disciplines that apply scientific theories and mathematical methods to develop technological solutions. This program is ideal for students…
What is the job outlook for Engineers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +2.1% growth with around 9,300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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