6 Engineering Technology colleges in North Carolina with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $54,488.
We started with Engineering Technology programs scoring 60th percentile or above for mobility—schools that actually serve low-income students. Then we ranked by earnings. The result: 6 programs that prove accessibility and strong outcomes aren't mutually exclusive.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh leads the rankings, producing Engineering Technology graduates earning $68,758 while maintaining a 95th percentile mobility score. Across this list, average graduate earnings reach $54,488—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes, not just access.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte serves 34% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $57,289. Even better: graduates face just an 8.9% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. These schools deliver both access AND affordability.
Earnings: $68,758 | Mobility: 95th percentile
51% Pell students with $44,440 earnings
6.9% payment burden | Excellent
13.7% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $68,758 | $20,121 | Excellent | $23,000 | Manageable | 95th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | $57,289 | $21,500 | Excellent | $19,809 | Manageable | 96th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | East Carolina UniversityPublic | $55,146 | $22,750 | Excellent | $19,710 | Manageable | 93th percentile mobility |
| #4 | $51,836 | $20,231 | Good | $21,919 | High | 93th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $49,458 | $21,868 | Excellent | $18,241 | Good | 91th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | $44,440 | $27,000 | Excellent | $20,004 | Manageable | 91th percentile mobility |
Our social mobility rankings answer: "Which schools deliver the best outcomes for students from low-income backgrounds?"
This is not simply "which schools admit the most low-income students" — it's which schools both serve low-income students and deliver strong earnings outcomes.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
