Best colleges for engineering in North Carolina
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in any engineering field, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for engineering in North Carolina17 schools
17 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in North Carolina.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in engineering, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Duke University
Durham, NC · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B+ · Top 23%
- 2
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- 3
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B · Top 42%
- 4
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade A- · Top 11%
- 5
Elon University
Elon, NC · Private nonprofitTop 8% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade C+
- 6
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 7
High Point University
High Point, NC · Private nonprofitTop 16% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade C+
- 8
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · PublicTop 22% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B+ · Top 23%
- 9
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Private nonprofit#16 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade C+
- 10
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC · Public#17 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 11
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC · Public#18 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 12
University of North Carolina Asheville
Asheville, NC · PublicTop 22% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 13
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC · PublicTop 17% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B · Top 46%
- 14
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC · Private nonprofit#22 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B-
- 15
Methodist University
Fayetteville, NC · Private nonprofit#33 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade C+
- 16
Johnson C Smith University
Charlotte, NC · Private nonprofit#34 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade C+
- 17
Saint Augustine's University
Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofit#35 in North Carolina
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade C+
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke University | $29,612 | $13,000 | $97,800 | 97% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $11,655 | $14,000 | $72,200 | 91% |
| Wake Forest University | $28,719 | $21,500 | $78,158 | 89% |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | $17,303 | $20,121 | $68,758 | 85% |
| Elon University | $41,555 | $20,500 | $74,545 | 84% |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | $20,109 | $19,500 | $54,967 | 71% |
| High Point University | $38,707 | $24,575 | $61,389 | 74% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $15,435 | $21,500 | $57,289 | 69% |
| Queens University of Charlotte | $30,857 | $25,000 | $57,673 | 61% |
| East Carolina University | $15,739 | $22,750 | $55,146 | 63% |
| Western Carolina University | $13,315 | $21,868 | $49,458 | 60% |
| University of North Carolina Asheville | $12,250 | $20,500 | $44,030 | 54% |
| North Carolina A & T State University | $10,846 | $27,000 | $44,440 | 57% |
| Campbell University | $24,516 | $22,500 | $54,886 | 61% |
| Methodist University | $24,704 | $27,000 | $48,050 | 44% |
| Johnson C Smith University | $20,894 | $30,000 | $42,680 | 34% |
| Saint Augustine's University | $24,313 | $29,669 | $35,730 | 25% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 11
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 11
- California 56
- Colorado 13
- Connecticut 17
- District of Columbia 4
- Florida 27
- Georgia 12
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 27
- Indiana 28
- Iowa 13
- Kansas 9
- Kentucky 9
- Louisiana 10
- Maine 4
- Maryland 11
- Massachusetts 22
- Michigan 29
- Minnesota 15
- Mississippi 6
- Missouri 14
- Montana 3
- Nebraska 3
- New Hampshire 4
- New Jersey 11
- New Mexico 3
- New York 41
- North Dakota 5
- Ohio 36
- Oklahoma 10
- Oregon 8
- Pennsylvania 57
- Puerto Rico 8
- Rhode Island 5
- South Carolina 15
- South Dakota 4
- Tennessee 25
- Texas 46
- Utah 8
- Vermont 5
- Virginia 22
- Washington 16
- West Virginia 9
- Wisconsin 16