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Cheapest Engineering Colleges in North Carolina

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

Engineering graduates from North Carolina schools earn between $58,447 and $63,997 annually, with NC State leading at $63,997 despite charging just $8,895 in-state tuition. Wake Technical Community College offers the most affordable path at $6,935 net cost, though completion rates vary dramatically across the state's eight programs. The Research Triangle's tech boom creates strong demand for engineering talent, particularly in software development and biotechnology sectors that fuel the region's economic growth.
8
Programs
$6,935 – $41,048
Net Price Range
$61,816
Avg. Program Earnings
62.4%
Avg. Graduation Rate

8 Engineering, General Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $6,935 $2,336 31.4%
2 $12,579 $4,532 59.1% 84.8%
3 $12,865 $7,461 55.0% 74.3%
4 $16,514 $7,361 62.1% 92.3%
5 $16,931 $8,895 84.6% 47.2%
6 $17,740 $16,896 33.2% 58.9%
7 $28,746 $64,758 90.9% 21.4%
8 $41,048 $44,536 83.0% 74.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the massive cost difference between Wake Technical and private universities?

Wake Technical Community College charges $6,935 net cost compared to Elon University's $41,048, a gap of over $34,000 annually. Community colleges receive substantial state funding and focus on two-year associate degrees, while private universities offer four-year bachelor's programs with extensive campus facilities and research opportunities.

How do graduation rates compare between affordable and expensive programs?

NC State achieves an 84.6% graduation rate while charging only $16,931 net cost, proving affordability doesn't mean lower quality. Wake Technical's 31.4% completion rate reflects the community college model where many students transfer before finishing, while Wake Forest reaches 90.9% but costs $28,746 annually.

Does attending a more expensive school guarantee higher earnings?

NC State graduates earn $63,997 annually while paying $16,931, outperforming East Carolina graduates who earn $58,447 despite similar costs. UNC Asheville graduates earn $63,005 but pay only $12,865, showing that school reputation and program strength matter more than tuition price.

More Engineering, General Rankings

Best Value Engineering, General in North Carolina Engineering, General Under $20,000 in North Carolina

Related

All Engineering, General Programs Best Colleges in North Carolina Best Engineering, General in North Carolina

Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.