2026 Best Value Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician Schools in North Carolina
[Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/architectural-engineering-technology/architectural-engineering-technology-technician/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for architectural engineering technology/technician students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician Schools in North Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the architectural engineering technology/technician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician Schools
Our analysis ranked Wilkes Community College the best value for a degree in architectural engineering technology/technician in North Carolina. Set in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,572, while out-of-state students pay about $8,716. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,125 in student loans. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Wilkes Community College earn a median of $36,341 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,125 median debt.
Central Piedmont Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value architectural engineering technology/technician schools. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $40,629 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fayetteville Technical Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architectural engineering technology/technician, landing the #3 spot this year. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,628, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $16,909 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architectural engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. Set against $16,909 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Forsyth Technical Community College one of the best values for architectural engineering technology/technician. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,276, while out-of-state students pay about $6,884. Typical student debt for architectural engineering technology/technician graduates is $16,374. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Forsyth Technical Community College earn a median of $38,094 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,374 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wake Technical Community College earned it the #5 place for architectural engineering technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,254 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,862. Students borrow a median of $17,900 to complete the architectural engineering technology/technician program here. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Wake Technical Community College earn a median of $38,673 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,900 median debt.
Pitt Community College landed the #6 spot for architectural engineering technology/technician value this year. Pitt Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Winterville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,871, compared with $13,087 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural engineering technology/technician graduates is $19,741. Early-career architectural engineering technology/technician graduates make about $43,022. That is a strong return on a $19,741 median debt.
Coastal Carolina Community College earned the #7 position for value in architectural engineering technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Coastal Carolina Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,512, compared with $8,656 for out-of-state students. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $7,125 in student loans. Early-career architectural engineering technology/technician graduates make about $37,831. Set against $7,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sandhills Community College earned the #8 position for value in architectural engineering technology/technician this year. Located in the rural area of Pinehurst, Sandhills Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,040, compared with $6,648 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural engineering technology/technician graduates is $9,238. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Sandhills Community College earn a median of $46,492 early in their careers. Set against $9,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
More Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician Rankings
View All Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
