collageWe all know that getting the right education is one of the most important things you can do in your life. Education gives us skills, knowledge and confidence to become who we want to be. For some, it’s finding the right school to take an engineering course.
North Carolina is the 36th largest state in the US, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in educational enterprise, innovation and industry and this is largely due to the wealth of educational institutions located in the state. North Carolina is home to more than 100 of the finest colleges and universities in the United States. A big reason for this great number is that North Carolina has a strong public university system that provides a world-class education to over 300,000 students every year. North Carolina is also one of the states that produces the most engineers in the United States.
Therefore, Collegelearners have compiled a list of some of the top schools for engineering in North Carolina. The list is based on both the feedback from students and statistics provided by schools.
Duke University (Pratt)
The Pratt School of Engineering is located at Duke University in the United States. The school’s associated research, education, alumni and service-to-society efforts are collectively known as Duke Engineering.
Research expenditures at Duke Engineering exceed $88 million per year. Its faculty is highly ranked in overall research productivity among U.S. engineering schools by Academic Analytics. Ten members of the Duke Engineering faculty are members of the prestigious National Academy of Engineering.
The Pratt School of Engineering also maintains these academic departments:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Civil & Environmental Engineering
- Electrical & Computer Engineering
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
Its tuition is full-time: $55,680 per year and part-time: $3,230 per year. The 2020 Ph.D. student-faculty ratio is 3.9:1. The Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University (Pratt) has 148 full-time faculty on staff.
Degree Programs
Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE), Master of Engineering (MEng), Master of Engineering Management (MEM), Master of Science (MS), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Graduate Certificates, Online Learning & Short Courses
Topics include: AI and machine learning, Blockchain and cryptocurrency, Business fundamentals for engineers, Computing fundamentals, Design fundamentals.
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University (NC State) is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina system, it is the largest university in the Carolinas. The university forms one of the corners of the Research Triangle together with Duke University in Durham and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It is classified among “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity”.
NC State’s colleges collectively offer more than 300 undergraduate and graduate degree programs through 65 departments.
The College of Engineering ranks among the best in the nation in innovation, research and the number of undergraduate and graduate degrees awarded across traditional and cutting-edge engineering disciplines.
- Biological and Agricultural Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering
- Computer Science
- Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering
Its in-state tuition and fees are $9,131; out-of-state tuition and fees are $29,916.
North Carolina State University admissions is more selective with an acceptance rate of 46% and an early acceptance rate of 47.2%. Half the applicants admitted to North Carolina State Raleigh have an SAT score between 1230 and 1410 or an ACT score of 27 and 32.
University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC, UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Chapel Hill]) is a public research university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The flagship of the University of North Carolina system, it is considered to be a Public Ivy, or a public institution which offers an academic experience similar to that of an Ivy League university. After being chartered in 1789, the university first began enrolling students in 1795, making it one of the oldest public universities in the United States. Among the claimants, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the only one to have held classes and graduated students as a public university in the eighteenth century.
The university offers degrees in over 70 courses of study and is administratively divided into 13 separate professional schools and a primary unit, the College of Arts & Sciences. Five of the schools have been named: the UNC Kenan–Flagler Business School, the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, and the UNC Adams School of Dentistry. All undergraduates receive a liberal arts education and have the option to pursue a major within the professional schools of the university or within the College of Arts and Sciences from the time they obtain junior status. It is classified among “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity”, and is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). According to the National Science Foundation, UNC spent $1.14 billion on research and development in 2018, ranking it 12th in the nation.
Its in-state tuition and fees are $8,992; out-of-state tuition and fees are $36,776.
University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill is ranked #28 in National Universities. Other rankings include;
- #10 in Best Colleges for Veterans (tie)
- #10 in Best Value Schools
University of North Carolina–Charlotte
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte, or simply Charlotte) is a public research university in Charlotte, North Carolina. UNC Charlotte offers 24 doctoral, 66 master’s, and 79 bachelor’s degree programs through nine colleges: the College of Arts + Architecture, the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the Belk College of Business, the College of Computing and Informatics, the Cato College of Education, the William States Lee College of Engineering, the College of Health and Human Services, the Honors College, and the University College.
UNC Charlotte is the largest institution of higher education in the Charlotte region. The university has experienced rapid enrollment growth of 33% over the past 10 years, making it the fastest-growing institution in the UNC System and contributing to more than 50% of the system’s growth since 2009. It is classified among “R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity”. In 2020, it surpassed the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to become the second-largest school in the UNC system by student enrollment.
The William States Lee College of Engineering at UNC Charlotte is divided into the following departments;
Civil & Environmental Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering & Engineering Science, Systems Engineering & Engineering Management, Engineering Technology.
At University of North Carolina–Charlotte, the total cost is $24,895 for in-state students and $38,443 for out-of-state students. The net price is the average cost of the university after aid and scholarship funds are discounted from the total cost, which come in on average at $33,738 for out-of-state students and $17,875 for in-state students receiving need-based aid.
North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina A&T or simply A&T) is a public, historically black land-grant research university in Greensboro, North Carolina. It is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System. Founded by the North Carolina General Assembly on March 9, 1891, as the Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race, it is the second college established under the provisions of the Morrill Act of 1890, and the first for people of color in the state of North Carolina. Initially, the college offered instruction in agriculture, English, horticulture, and mathematics. In 1967, the college was designated a Regional University by the North Carolina General Assembly and renamed North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
With an enrollment of over 12,000 students, North Carolina A&T is the largest historically black university in the U.S., a position it has held since 2014. According to U.S. News & World Report, the university is ranked seventh nationally among historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and first among public HBCUs. The university is also well recognized for its degree program in engineering. The university’s College of Engineering has consistently ranked first in the nation for the number of degrees awarded to African Americans at undergraduate level, and is a leading producer of African-American engineers with master’s and doctoral degrees.
Established in 1968, the College of Engineering is distributed across six departments; chemical biological and bio engineering; civil, architectural and environmental engineering; computer science; electrical and computer engineering; industrial and systems engineering; and mechanical engineering and the interdisciplinary computational science and engineering program.
The College of Engineering at A&T is the No. 1 ranked public HBCU (Forbes‘ America’s Top Colleges, 2021), No. 1 producer of African American undergraduates in both Engineering and Agriculture and in masters degrees in Mathematics/Statistics and Engineering (U.S. Dept. of Education), No. 1 producer of degrees awarded to African Americans in North Carolina, No. 1 graduate business school at a public HBCU (U.S. News & World Report, Best Graduate ), No. 1 producer of Black engineers who go on to earn doctoral degrees, No. 1 nursing school among all HBCUs, 2022 (TopRNtoBSN.com), No. 1 in America among all HBCUs in voter registration, 2020 (ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, 2021).
Its in-state tuition costs $4,636.81 and $5,239.31 for undergraduate and graduate programs respectively, and out of state tuition costs $11,391.81 and $11,639.31 for undergraduate and graduate programs respectively.
East Carolina University
East Carolina University (ECU) is a public research university in Greenville, North Carolina. It is the fourth largest university in North Carolina.
Founded on March 8, 1907 as a teacher training school, East Carolina has grown from its original 43 acres (17 ha) to almost 1,600 acres (647 ha) today. The university’s academic facilities are located on six properties: Main Campus, Health Sciences Campus, West Research Campus, the Field Station for Coastal Studies in New Holland, North Carolina, the Millennial Research Innovation Campus in Greenville’s warehouse district and an overseas campus in Certaldo Alto, Italy. ECU also operates the Coastal Studies Institute. The nine undergraduate colleges, graduate school, and four professional schools are located on these four properties. All of the non-health sciences majors are located on the main campus. The College of Nursing, College of Allied Health Sciences, The Brody School of Medicine, and School of Dental Medicine are located on the health science campus. ECU is classified among “R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity”
The ECU College of Engineering & Technology is divided into 4 departments:
Computer Science, Construction Management, Engineering & Technology Systems.
ECU Tuition & Fees
Below is a list of estimated expenses for a full-time ECU student living on campus during the 2021-2022 academic year, including tuition, fees, and room and board. All costs are subject to change pending legislative approval.
| North Carolina Resident | Out-of-State Resident | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees | $7,317 | $23,594 |
| Room and Board | $10,450 | $10,450 |
| Total (per year) | $17,767 | $34,044 |
Western Carolina University
Western Carolina University (WCU) is a public university in Cullowhee, North Carolina. It is part of the University of North Carolina system.
The fifth oldest institution of the sixteen four-year universities in the UNC system, WCU was founded to educate the people of the western North Carolina mountains. WCU provides an education to students from 48 states and 35 countries.
One of WCU’s six academic colleges, the College of Engineering and Technology offers a variety of degree programs in engineering, technology and construction management. Academically, the College of Engineering and Technology offers several accredited undergraduate and graduate degrees in Construction Management and in Engineering and Technology.
The Kimmel School of Construction Management offers degrees in the following areas of study:
Undergraduate Programs: CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, B.S. & CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT MINOR
Graduate Programs: MASTER OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT (Online Graduate Program)
The School of Engineering + Technology offers bachelor’s degrees in the following areas of study:
Electrical Engineering, B.S.E.E.
Engineering, B.S. – Concentrations in Mechanical, Manufacturing, and Electric Power
Engineering Technology – Applied Systems Technology, B.S.
Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology, B.S.
Other Programs
Engineering Technology – Technical Operations, B.S. (Distance)
Master of Science in Engineering Technology
Undergraduate Study Tuition
| Resident | Tuition and Fees |
|---|---|
| Resident of NC | $ 3,491.90* |
| Non-Resident of NC | $ 5,491.90* |
*Fees include a proposed $1308.40 for the Health Insurance Fee which may be waived by verifying coverage. Fees also include a Book Rental Fee for textbooks.
Graduate Study Tuition
| Graduate Program | Full-Time Tuition & Fees Residents of North Carolina 9 hours or more | Full-Time Tuition & Fees Nonresidents of North Carolina 9 hours or more |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Student | $3740.00 | $8943.50 |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice – Nurse Anesthesia | D.N.P | $6140.00 | $11343.50 |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice | D.N.P. | $6140.00 | $11343.50 |
| Physical Therapy | D.P.T | $4150.00 | $10394.00 |
| Communication Sciences & Disorders | M.S. | $4340.00 | $9543.50 |
| Business Graduate Student | $4190.00 | $9843.50 |
| Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner | Post Master’s Certificate | $4040.00 | $9243.50 |
| Social Work | M.S.W. | $4040.00 | $9243.50 |
| Athletic Training | M.S.A.T. | $4590.00 | $9793.50 |
University of North Carolina at Asheville
The University of North Carolina Asheville (UNC Asheville, UNCA, or simply Asheville) is a public liberal arts university in Asheville, North Carolina. UNC Asheville is the only designated liberal arts institution in the University of North Carolina system. UNC Asheville is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges.
UNC Asheville’s engineering programs are offered jointly with NC State University, combining the best that two nationally recognized universities have to offer. Choose between the traditional 2+2 Program (two years at UNC Asheville and then a transfer to NC State) and the Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a Mechatronics Concentration, with all four years on the UNC Asheville campus leading to a degree issued jointly by NC State and UNC Asheville.
The annual direct cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, housing and dining services for the 2021-22 academic year:
- In-state: $17,566.50
- Out-of-state: $34,914.50
The annual indirect cost of attendance includes direct cost plus estimates for books and supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses for the 2021-22 academic year:
- In-state: $21,230.50
- Out-of-state: $39,678.50
Financial aid awards are based on the budgeted cost of attendance to maximize affordability.
Wake Technical Community College
Wake Technical Community College (Wake Tech) is a public community college in Raleigh, North Carolina. Its first location, Southern Wake Campus, opened in 1963. Wake Tech now operates multiple campuses throughout Wake County. The largest community college in North Carolina, Wake Tech is part of the North Carolina Community College System and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Wake offers an associate degree in engineering (AE). The Associate in Engineering curriculum is designed to prepare students to successfully transfer into an engineering degree program at a four-year university and requires a strong background in mathematics and sciences. The Associate in Engineering program is part of the Uniform Articulation Agreement, which facilitates transfer opportunities for Associate in Engineering degree completers at constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina System to pursue Bachelor of Science in Engineering degrees.
In-State Tuition – $1,384
Out-of-State Tuition – $4,456
University of North Carolina – Wilmington
The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW or UNC Wilmington) is a public research university in Wilmington, North Carolina. It is part of the University of North Carolina System and enrolls 17,499 undergraduate and graduate students each year. It is classified among “R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity”.
Founded on September 4, 1947, Wilmington College opened as a junior college, primarily providing education to World War II veterans. The school became a four-year liberal arts college in 1963, following legislation from the North Carolina General Assembly. In 1969, the school became a university and was renamed as the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Today, the school has three campuses, the main campus located in Wilmington, an extension campus in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and the Center for Marine Science near Myrtle Grove.
Its in-state tuition and fees are $7,238; out-of-state tuition and fees are $21,303.
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