Best Engineering Technology Colleges for Social Mobility in the South
Updated
Regional list from Best Engineering Technology Colleges for Social Mobility
Best Engineering Technology Colleges for Social Mobility in the South lists 52 schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ranks 1st on this page, with median earnings of $81,698 ten years after entry.
Across the listed schools, median earnings of all students ten years after entry range from $81,698 to $38,924. The median is $49,936.
Ten years after entry, the gap between the first and second ranked schools is $9,601.
51 of the 52 schools are public and 1 is private nonprofit. Berea College posts the lowest average net price on the page, at $6,106.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 10 years after entry | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Pell share | Mobility percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA | $81,698 | $24,953 | $11,689 | 15.3% | 94th |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University reports $81,698 in median earnings of all students ten years after entry, and ranks 1st on this list. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering-Related Fields (24 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Engineering-Related Fields ($81,618) | ||||||
| 2 | Texas A&M University-College Station · College Station, TX | $72,097 | $21,315 | $12,784 | 19.6% | 99th |
| A public university in College Station, Texas A&M University-College Station sits at the 99th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (271 graduates), Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (149 graduates), Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (101 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician ($101,540), Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($99,943) | ||||||
| 3 | University of Florida · Gainesville, FL | $71,588 | $6,541 | $1,982 | 21.7% | 97th |
| University of Florida posts an average net price of $1,982 for families earning under $30,000, and ranks 3rd on this list. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (100 graduates), Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (14 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician ($109,139) | ||||||
| 4 | Clemson University · Clemson, SC | $71,513 | $22,253 | $13,607 | 14.8% | 89th |
| Clemson University ranks 4th on this list, with median earnings of $71,513 for all students ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (82 graduates), Engineering-Related Fields (55 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Engineering-Related Fields ($94,449) | ||||||
| 5 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC | $68,758 | $17,303 | $6,382 | 19.6% | 95th |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh shows a 20% share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants alongside an average net price of $17,303. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians (15 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians ($66,491) | ||||||
| 6 | University of Houston · Houston, TX | $62,377 | $14,276 | $10,929 | 41.6% | 100th |
| At the 100th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions, University of Houston reports median earnings of $62,377 ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (191 graduates), Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (68 graduates), Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians (65 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician ($97,201), Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($87,022), Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians ($84,692) | ||||||
| 7 | Florida International University · Miami, FL | $60,249 | $9,288 | $7,003 | 41.4% | 99th |
| Florida International University in Miami has an average net price of $7,003 for families earning under $30,000 and a 41% Pell share. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (62 graduates), Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other (31 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician ($99,471) | ||||||
| 8 | Kennesaw State University · Kennesaw, GA | $57,552 | $15,048 | $12,235 | 37.7% | 99th |
| Kennesaw State University ranks 8th on this list and reports median earnings of $57,552 for all students ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (55 graduates), Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (54 graduates), Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (24 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($91,329), Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General ($89,729), Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians ($83,083) | ||||||
| 9 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus · Stillwater, OK | $57,413 | $17,447 | $12,243 | 28.0% | 93rd |
| A public university in Stillwater, Oklahoma State University-Main Campus sits at the 93rd percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other (67 graduates), Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (40 graduates), Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (22 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician ($89,342), Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians ($76,400) | ||||||
| 10 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC | $57,289 | $15,435 | $10,357 | 33.9% | 96th |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte posts an average net price of $15,435 and a 34% share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other (63 graduates), Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (54 graduates), Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (26 graduates) | ||||||
| 11 | University of North Texas · Denton, TX | $57,010 | $15,649 | $12,311 | 38.0% | 98th |
| With a 38% share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants, University of North Texas reports median earnings of $57,010 ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (53 graduates), Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (37 graduates) | ||||||
| 12 | Texas State University · San Marcos, TX | $56,906 | $16,805 | $12,715 | 37.2% | 99th |
| At the 99th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions, Texas State University has an average net price of $12,715 for families earning under $30,000. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (124 graduates), Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (56 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician ($100,352) | ||||||
| 13 | University of North Florida · Jacksonville, FL | $56,343 | $10,154 | $6,647 | 30.8% | 90th |
| University of North Florida ranks 13th on this list and reports median earnings of $56,343 for all students ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (80 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician ($94,692) | ||||||
| 14 | East Carolina University · Greenville, NC | $55,146 | $15,739 | $10,046 | 31.8% | 92nd |
| With a share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants of 32%, East Carolina University sits at the 92nd percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (201 graduates), Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other (123 graduates), Engineering-Related Fields (31 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other ($87,848), Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($81,852) | ||||||
| 15 | Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA | $54,914 | $14,638 | $9,739 | 36.8% | 92nd |
| Old Dominion University posts an average net price of $14,638 alongside median earnings of $54,914 ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other (141 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other ($81,077) | ||||||
| 16 | Sam Houston State University · Huntsville, TX | $54,211 | $16,404 | $12,474 | 41.3% | 96th |
| Ranking 16th on this list, Sam Houston State University shows a share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants of 41% and an average net price of $12,474 for families earning under $30,000. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (69 graduates), Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians (25 graduates), Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (13 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician ($93,904) | ||||||
| 17 | University of Houston-Downtown · Houston, TX | $53,551 | $10,542 | $9,439 | 55.2% | 96th |
| University of Houston-Downtown reports median earnings of $53,551 ten years after entry and a Pell share of 55%. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (22 graduates), Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians (18 graduates), Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($112,244), Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians ($58,535) | ||||||
| 18 | Georgia Southern University · Statesboro, GA | $53,236 | $15,267 | $12,162 | 36.3% | 95th |
| At the 95th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions, Georgia Southern University posts an average net price of $15,267. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (107 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician ($95,844) | ||||||
| 19 | Tarleton State University · Stephenville, TX | $53,040 | $20,783 | $15,574 | 34.4% | 88th |
| Tarleton State University ranks 19th on this list with median earnings of $53,040 ten years after entry and an average net price of $15,574 for families earning under $30,000. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (52 graduates), Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (28 graduates), Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (14 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($87,678) | ||||||
| 20 | Louisiana Tech University · Ruston, LA | $52,279 | $11,864 | $7,676 | 21.7% | 77th |
| With a share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants of 22%, Louisiana Tech University reports median earnings of $52,279 for all students ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (51 graduates), Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (17 graduates) | ||||||
| 21 | Appalachian State University · Boone, NC | $51,836 | $16,836 | $9,325 | 26.4% | 91st |
| Appalachian State University sits at the 91st percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts an average net price of $16,836. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians (56 graduates) | ||||||
| 22 | Mississippi State University · Mississippi State, MS | $51,513 | $17,595 | $14,332 | 29.3% | 88th |
| Ranking 22nd on this list, Mississippi State University reports median earnings of $51,513 ten years after entry and a Pell share of 29%. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (79 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($79,068) | ||||||
| 23 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville · Kingsville, TX | $51,450 | $12,090 | $10,207 | 52.7% | 76th |
| Texas A&M University-Kingsville posts an average net price of $10,207 for families earning under $30,000 alongside a share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants of 53%. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (29 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($71,207) | ||||||
| 24 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN | $51,151 | $14,265 | $9,876 | 32.8% | 73rd |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga ranks 24th on this list and reports median earnings of $51,151 for all students ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering-Related Fields (51 graduates), Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (9 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Engineering-Related Fields ($92,900) | ||||||
| 25 | West Texas A & M University · Canyon, TX | $50,741 | $19,487 | $16,525 | 41.1% | 80th |
| West Texas A & M University reports median earnings of $50,741 for all students ten years after entry, and sits at the 80th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (7 graduates) | ||||||
| 26 | Northern Kentucky University · Highland Heights, KY | $50,220 | $8,191 | $2,603 | 25.2% | 71st |
| With an average net price of $8,191, Northern Kentucky University ranks 26th on this list and posts a 71st percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (31 graduates), Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (10 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($88,492) | ||||||
| 27 | Lamar University · Beaumont, TX | $49,652 | $9,366 | $7,568 | 46.5% | 79th |
| Lamar University has a 46% share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and median earnings of $49,652 for all students ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (46 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($87,113) | ||||||
| 28 | Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC | $49,458 | $13,315 | $8,816 | 34.6% | 86th |
| At the 86th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions, Western Carolina University reports an average net price of $13,315. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (53 graduates), Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (43 graduates), Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician ($83,954), Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General ($78,801) | ||||||
| 29 | University of South Carolina-Upstate · Spartanburg, SC | $48,587 | $13,557 | $11,618 | 46.2% | 77th |
| University of South Carolina-Upstate ranks 29th on this list, with median earnings of $48,587 for all students ten years after entry and a 46% share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering-Related Fields (15 graduates) | ||||||
| 30 | Middle Tennessee State University · Murfreesboro, TN | $48,541 | $13,359 | $9,289 | 31.8% | 90th |
| A public university in Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University sits at the 90th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $48,541 for all students ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering-Related Fields (43 graduates), Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (22 graduates), Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (17 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Engineering-Related Fields ($83,405), Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General ($80,541) | ||||||
| 31 | Tennessee Technological University · Cookeville, TN | $48,501 | $14,246 | $9,815 | 30.9% | 88th |
| Tennessee Technological University posts an average net price of $14,246 and median earnings of $48,501 for all students ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (69 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General ($77,658) | ||||||
| 32 | University of Memphis · Memphis, TN | $48,458 | $12,397 | $10,607 | 41.2% | 88th |
| With a 41% share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants, University of Memphis ranks 32nd on this list and reports median earnings of $48,458 for all students ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (40 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General ($79,914) | ||||||
| 33 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette · Lafayette, LA | $47,089 | $13,530 | $11,157 | 41.5% | 91st |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette sits at the 91st percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $13,530. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (59 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($69,334) | ||||||
| 34 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana · Natchitoches, LA | $47,021 | $13,606 | $11,693 | 35.2% | 71st |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana ranks 34th on this list, with median earnings of $47,021 for all students ten years after entry and a 35% share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (18 graduates), Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (17 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($74,209) | ||||||
| 35 | Southeastern Louisiana University · Hammond, LA | $46,482 | $13,154 | $10,507 | 33.3% | 84th |
| At the 84th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions, Southeastern Louisiana University reports an average net price of $13,154. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (37 graduates), Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (34 graduates), Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (24 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians ($83,039), Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($76,401), Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General ($74,785) | ||||||
| 36 | Eastern Kentucky University · Richmond, KY | $45,795 | $11,040 | $8,591 | 41.1% | 82nd |
| Eastern Kentucky University posts median earnings of $45,795 for all students ten years after entry and a 41% share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (120 graduates), Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians (15 graduates), Engineering-Related Fields (11 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians ($92,289) | ||||||
| 37 | Virginia State University · Petersburg, VA | $45,543 | $15,840 | $13,220 | 72.1% | 84th |
| Virginia State University reports median earnings of $45,543 for all students ten years after entry and sits at the 84th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (16 graduates), Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (11 graduates), Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (8 graduates) | ||||||
| 38 | Nicholls State University · Thibodaux, LA | $45,454 | $12,947 | $10,714 | 34.1% | 69th |
| With an average net price of $12,947, Nicholls State University ranks 38th on this list and posts a 34% share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians (15 graduates), Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (11 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians ($74,167) | ||||||
| 39 | Prairie View A & M University · Prairie View, TX | $45,411 | $13,570 | $12,120 | 65.6% | 92nd |
| Prairie View A & M University reaches the 92nd percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its students' median earnings ten years after entry stand at $45,411. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (18 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician ($64,359) | ||||||
| 40 | Northeastern State University · Tahlequah, OK | $45,379 | $12,710 | $10,598 | 45.1% | 75th |
| Northeastern State University ranks 40th on this list, with median earnings of $45,379 ten years after entry and an average net price of $10,598 for families earning under $30,000. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (34 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians ($69,276) | ||||||
| 41 | Jacksonville State University · Jacksonville, AL | $45,235 | $14,279 | $12,472 | 42.6% | 83rd |
| A 43% share of undergraduates receive Pell Grants at Jacksonville State University, which reports median earnings of $45,235 for all students ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other (29 graduates), Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (21 graduates) | ||||||
| 42 | East Tennessee State University · Johnson City, TN | $44,859 | $15,983 | $12,433 | 34.8% | 76th |
| East Tennessee State University ranks 42nd on this list and posts median earnings of $44,859 ten years after entry, alongside an average net price of $15,983. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (52 graduates), Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (13 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General ($75,298) | ||||||
| 43 | Murray State University · Murray, KY | $44,737 | $9,096 | $6,242 | 33.3% | 74th |
| At the 74th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions, Murray State University carries an average net price of $6,242 for families earning under $30,000. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (54 graduates), Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians (29 graduates), Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (14 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($87,573), Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians ($84,705), Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($58,862) | ||||||
| 44 | North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC | $44,440 | $10,846 | $8,223 | 52.3% | 90th |
| North Carolina A & T State University reports median earnings of $44,440 for all students ten years after entry and a 52% share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (30 graduates), Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other (22 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($77,476), Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other ($74,974) | ||||||
| 45 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University · Tallahassee, FL | $44,349 | $13,739 | $13,299 | 54.3% | 91st |
| Ranking 45th on this list, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University sits at the 91st percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions with median earnings of $44,349 ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (12 graduates), Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (6 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Construction Engineering Technology/Technician ($98,272) | ||||||
| 46 | Austin Peay State University · Clarksville, TN | $44,301 | $9,735 | $7,588 | 43.5% | 78th |
| Austin Peay State University posts an average net price of $9,735 and median earnings of $44,301 for all students ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (44 graduates) | ||||||
| 47 | University of Southern Mississippi · Hattiesburg, MS | $44,140 | $21,708 | $19,867 | 46.3% | 82nd |
| With a 46% share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants, University of Southern Mississippi ranks 47th on this list and reports median earnings of $44,140 ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians (98 graduates), Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (51 graduates), Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (6 graduates) | ||||||
| 48 | Western Kentucky University · Bowling Green, KY | $43,889 | $10,990 | $7,087 | 30.5% | 78th |
| Western Kentucky University reaches the 78th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions and carries an average net price of $7,087 for families earning under $30,000. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (37 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($86,033) | ||||||
| 49 | Berea College · Berea, KY | $43,150 | $6,106 | $5,428 | 83.7% | 61st |
| Berea College, a private nonprofit institution in Berea, reports median earnings of $43,150 for all students ten years after entry and an average net price of $6,106. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (17 graduates) | ||||||
| 50 | Grambling State University · Grambling, LA | $41,109 | $19,809 | $18,666 | 75.0% | 75th |
| Grambling State University sits at the 75th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts median earnings of $41,109 ten years after entry. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (19 graduates) | ||||||
| 51 | Jackson State University · Jackson, MS | $39,060 | $23,836 | $22,869 | 72.3% | 77th |
| With a Pell share of 72%, Jackson State University ranks 51st on this list and shows an average net price of $22,869 for families earning under $30,000. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (17 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($52,107) | ||||||
| 52 | Texas Southern University · Houston, TX | $38,924 | $16,590 | $16,437 | 72.3% | 87th |
| Texas Southern University in Houston reports median earnings of $38,924 ten years after entry and a Pell share of 72%. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (9 graduates), Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians (9 graduates) | ||||||
How this list is ordered
Schools first had to sit at or above the 60th percentile on Azimuth's mobility pillar; those that qualified are ordered by the school's median earnings of all students ten years after entry, highest first, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page. The list is ordered by each school's median earnings of all federally aided students at the institution ten years after entry, working and not enrolled. It does not measure earnings in any one major or teaching quality. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University posts $81,698, and the gap to second-ranked Texas A&M University-College Station is $9,601.
Job market context in the South
Graduates of Engineering Technology programs in the South enter a labor market that links to occupations such as Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers, Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, and Industrial Engineers. The median annual wage across those occupations is $75,141, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $59,767. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 11.4% higher, with 238,330 projected openings a year, or about 3,462 openings a year for every hundred graduates, which means more projected openings than graduates. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses the median earnings of all students at each school ten years after entry; the wage and openings figures here describe the broader occupational context and are not the same measure.
Related rankings
- Best Engineering Technology Colleges for Social Mobility
- Best Colleges in the South
- Best Engineering Technology Colleges for Social Mobility in the Midwest
- Engineering Technology Colleges in the Northeast for Social Mobility
- Best Engineering Technology Colleges for Social Mobility in the West
- Engineering Technology Colleges in the South