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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Pre-Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region

3 Colleges in the United States
435 Pre-Engineering Degrees Awarded
$38,525 Avg Early-Career Salary

Pre-Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 54 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best pre-engineering schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Pre-Engineering in the Southeast Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the pre-engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Pre-Engineering

1

Leading the list is University Of Arkansas Fort Smith, our #1 school for pre-engineering. University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fort Smith. About 38% of students finish within six years. About 39 pre-engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Arkansas Fort Smith in the most recent year. Graduates of the pre-engineering program make about $39,204 in their early career. University Of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates carry a median of $20,333 in student loans. Read more about the pre-engineering program at University Of Arkansas Fort Smith

2

A rank of #2 makes Central Piedmont Community College one of the top schools for pre-engineering. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 55 pre-engineering students who graduated with this degree at Central Piedmont Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the pre-engineering program make about $40,629 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,861. Read more about the pre-engineering program at Central Piedmont Community College

3
Gaston College crest
Gaston College
Dallas, NC

Gaston College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best pre-engineering schools. Gaston College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Dallas. Gaston College awarded about 11 pre-engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Pre-Engineering graduates of Gaston College earn a median of $39,937 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,915 to complete this degree. Get the full pre-engineering details for Gaston College

4

Wake Technical Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best pre-engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. About 118 pre-engineering degrees were awarded at Wake Technical Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the pre-engineering program make about $38,673 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,182. See the full pre-engineering program report for Wake Technical Community College

5

Students looking for a strong pre-engineering program will find one at Chattanooga State Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Chattanooga State Community College awarded about 13 pre-engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Pre-Engineering graduates of Chattanooga State Community College earn a median of $37,252 early in their careers. Chattanooga State Community College graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. See the full pre-engineering program report for Chattanooga State Community College

6

Johnston Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best pre-engineering schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Smithfield. Johnston Community College awarded about 27 pre-engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the pre-engineering program make about $37,472 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,490. Read more about the pre-engineering program at Johnston Community College

7
Midlands Technical College crest
Midlands Technical College
West Columbia, SC

Midlands Technical College came in at #7 for pre-engineering this year. Located in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public university. About 13 pre-engineering degrees were awarded at Midlands Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the pre-engineering program make about $39,610 in their early career. Midlands Technical College graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. Read more about the pre-engineering program at Midlands Technical College

8

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College earned the #8 position for pre-engineering this year. Set in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public institution. About 98 pre-engineering degrees were awarded at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, pre-engineering degree recipients from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College generally make around $34,214. Typical student debt for the program is $8,250. See the full pre-engineering program report for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

9

Guilford Technical Community College earned the #9 position for pre-engineering this year. Guilford Technical Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Jamestown. There were roughly 28 pre-engineering students who graduated with this degree at Guilford Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, pre-engineering degree recipients from Guilford Technical Community College generally make around $36,124. Students borrow a median of $20,501 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in pre-engineering from Guilford Technical Community College

10

Forsyth Technical Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best pre-engineering schools. This large public university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. Forsyth Technical Community College awarded about 10 pre-engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Pre-Engineering graduates of Forsyth Technical Community College earn a median of $38,094 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,374. Read more about the pre-engineering program at Forsyth Technical Community College

11

Cape Fear Community College landed the #11 spot for pre-engineering this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 10 pre-engineering students who graduated with this degree at Cape Fear Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, pre-engineering degree recipients from Cape Fear Community College generally make around $42,889. Students borrow a median of $12,388 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in pre-engineering from Cape Fear Community College

12

Central Carolina Community College came in at #12 for pre-engineering this year. Set in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 13 pre-engineering students who graduated with this degree at Central Carolina Community College in the most recent data year. Pre-Engineering graduates of Central Carolina Community College earn a median of $38,198 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,266 to complete this degree. See the full pre-engineering program report for Central Carolina Community College

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 54 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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