U.S. median for this major: $88,063.
College Scorecard field of study; 36 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 31% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $27,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $19,992. College Scorecard.
Western Carolina University Engineering: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Engineering nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Western Carolina University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $8,816 | $38,261 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $10,012 | $43,452 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $12,605 | $54,706 | 1.1 years |
| $75–110k | $17,060 | $74,040 | 1.5 years |
| $110k+ | $17,992 | $78,085 | 1.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (41% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Engineering graduates 4 years after graduating ($82,500) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $48,984 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Engineering at North Carolina colleges
Every North Carolina college we cover that reports Engineering graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | $99,838 | $30,518 | $17,303 | 85% |
| 2 | University of North Carolina Asheville | $88,346 | $31,000 | $12,250 | 54% |
| 3 | East Carolina University | $84,847 | $26,978 | $15,739 | 63% |
| 4 | Western Carolina University | $82,500 | $25,550 | $13,315 | 60% |
4 more North Carolina colleges offer Engineering but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Engineering graduates
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Western Carolina University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Western Carolina University
- Acceptance rate: 82% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 60% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $49,458
- Full cost breakdown · all 55 majors · overview
Related majors at Western Carolina University
- Electrical Engineering—
Western Carolina University Engineering questions
How much do Western Carolina University Engineering graduates earn?
Engineering graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median $82,500 four years after graduating and $62,244 one year after. The U.S. median for Engineering graduates across 57 colleges is $88,063.
How much debt do Western Carolina University Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Engineering graduates of Western Carolina University is $25,550, about 31% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $27,000.
Is Western Carolina University a good school for Engineering in North Carolina?
On pay, Engineering graduates of Western Carolina University earn $82,500 four years out, $4,096 below the median for the same major across 4 North Carolina colleges ($86,596) and $5,563 below the U.S. median ($88,063). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Western Carolina University rank for Engineering in North Carolina?
Of 4 North Carolina colleges reporting Engineering graduate earnings, Western Carolina University ranks 4th. The highest is North Carolina State University at Raleigh at $99,838.
What jobs do Engineering graduates get?
A common career is architectural and engineering managers, with a median wage of $167,840 in North Carolina and $171,270 nationally.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Western Carolina University Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-carolina-university/majors/engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).