Rankings / HBCU
Best HBCUs for Engineering
- 11
- Schools
- $45,909
- Avg. Earnings
- 42%
- Avg. Graduation
- $21,247
- Avg. Net Price
- $28,043
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $38,262 at the low end to $63,066 at the top. That 1.6× spread shows how much outcomes vary within a single category.
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North Carolina A & T State University offers the strongest payback. Graduates earn a median of $44,440 against $10,846 in annual net price, the best earnings-to-cost ratio in this ranking.
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Cost and quality are not at odds here. The most affordable school, North Carolina A & T State University at $10,846 a year in net price, delivers earnings of $44,440, matching or exceeding the list average.
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Completion rates separate this field: Howard University graduates 69% of its students, well above the 42% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
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Debt-to-earnings ratios favor Howard University: graduates owe only 0.39× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- The top spot belongs to North Carolina A & T State University ($44,440 earnings), not the highest earner, Howard University ($63,066). That is what weighting mobility and value over salary alone produces.
- Price and payoff diverge sharply here. North Carolina A & T State University ($10,846/yr) and Howard University ($50,539/yr) produce graduates earning $44,440 and $63,066 respectively, a far narrower earnings gap than the $39,693 cost difference would suggest.
- On a cost-adjusted basis, North Carolina A & T State University outperforms Howard University: similar career earnings at a much lower net price.
The Takeaway
The through line among the top-ranked schools is plain. They pair solid graduate earnings with affordable costs and meaningful social mobility. Prestige and selectivity matter far less than whether students end up better off.
What This Means for Students
Your shortlist should start with North Carolina A & T State University and Howard University. For each school, look up the net price your family would actually pay, weigh it against typical graduate earnings, and build the decision around the return instead of the name recognition.
Why this ranking matters
Engineering is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $44K within a decade, and mechanical engineer roles are projected to grow 10%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 North Carolina A & T State University #1 overall | $44,440 ▼ -3% vs avg | $10,846 | 56% | 71 |
| 2 Tuskegee University #2 overall | $49,641 ▲ +8% vs avg | $35,013 | 56% | 66 |
| 3 Tennessee State University #3 overall | $42,730 ▼ -7% vs avg | $15,796 | 33% | 64 |
| $63,066 ▲ +37% vs avg | $50,539 | 69% | 63 | |
| $45,411 ▼ -1% vs avg | $13,570 | 43% | 62 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best HBCUs for Engineering
This analysis ranks 11 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $45,909 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 42% and an average net price of $21,247.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: North Carolina A & T State University — Net Price: $10,846 | Graduation Rate: 56%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Howard University — 69% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Howard University — Median alumni earnings: $63,066
Data Insight
The most expensive quartile of colleges costs 373% more than the most affordable — but their graduates earn just 34% more.
Engineering Talent Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about America’s engineering talent pipeline?
$44,440
Median earnings (10yr)
41%
Median graduation rate
$17,621
Median net price
3.0%
Avg. mobility rate
Engineering remains one of the most reliable investments in higher education. Earnings are high, unemployment is low, and the skills tie directly to the physical infrastructure of the economy. ABET accreditation and co-op placements are the structural markers that separate programs, and reshoring plus federal infrastructure investment keeps amplifying demand.
The median graduation rate across these 11 schools is 41%. Median graduate earnings reach $44,440 ten years after enrollment. Average net price, the cost after grants, is $17,621 a year, and median federal debt at graduation is about $27,000. Some 59% of students receive Pell grants, and mobility, the share of low-income students who reach the top quintile, averages 3.0%.
Engineering programs that combine ABET accreditation with co-op or internship requirements produce the strongest outcomes. Median earnings of $44,440 reflect the field’s consistent premium over other disciplines. With infrastructure spending accelerating, demand for these graduates is structural rather than cyclical.
The podium
Build your ranking
Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Greensboro, NC · 50% accepted · $10,846 net
Why it ranks #1
North Carolina A & T State University lands at #1 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $44,440 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,846 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Tuskegee University lands at #2 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (29/100). Graduates earn a median $49,641 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $35,013 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Tennessee State University lands at #3 with a 64/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (43/100). Graduates earn a median $42,730 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,796 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Howard University lands at #4 with a 63/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (22/100). Graduates earn a median $63,066 a decade after enrolling, 37% above this list's average, and net price runs $50,539 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Prairie View A & M University lands at #5 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (68/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $45,411 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,570 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
South Carolina State University lands at #6 with a 61/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $38,262 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $18,097 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Morgan State University lands at #7 with a 60/100 composite, led by social mobility (62/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $50,698 a decade after enrolling, 10% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,985 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Jackson State University lands at #8 with a 60/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (35/100). Graduates earn a median $39,060 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $23,836 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Princess Anne, MD · 96% accepted · $13,338 net
Why it ranks #9
University of Maryland Eastern Shore lands at #9 with a 57/100 composite, led by social mobility (62/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $47,697 a decade after enrolling, 4% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,338 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Baton Rouge, LA · 35% accepted · $20,077 net
Why it ranks #10
Southern University and A & M College lands at #10 with a 54/100 composite, led by social mobility (62/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (43/100). Graduates earn a median $43,371 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,077 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Alabama A & M University lands at #11 with a 53/100 composite, led by social mobility (54/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $40,628 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,621 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 11 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Top states on this list
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Mechanical Engineers and related roles — a field with $99,510 median pay and 10% projected growth.
See the Mechanical Engineer career guide →Choosing the right college is a crucial step for students pursuing engineering, especially at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Each of these schools shares a commitment to providing quality education while fostering an inclusive environment. With engineering degrees often leading to higher earnings, families are weighing their options carefully.
The best HBCUs for engineering stand out based on key outcomes. We look at earnings, graduation rates, debt levels, and the concentration of engineering programs to help students understand their options. For instance, the average earnings for graduates from these institutions is $45,310, but the variation in debt and graduation rates can significantly impact a graduate's financial future.
Consider North Carolina A & T State University and Morgan State University. Both schools have strong engineering programs, but North Carolina A & T graduates earn an average of $44,440 compared to Morgan State's $50,698. However, Morgan State has a lower graduation rate at 41%, while North Carolina A & T has 56%. These differences illustrate the trade-offs students must consider when evaluating their options.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 6 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 3%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. Tuskegee University leads the group at 5.2%, with Howard University (4%) and Jackson State University (3%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 15.3% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Jackson State University enrolls the most, at 30.5%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 23.5% across the list, peaking at 37.1% at Howard University.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.15, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Howard University is highest at 1.62.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
Where These Schools Are Located
The data reveals that earnings and graduation rates are critical indicators of success among HBCUs. For example, Morgan State University boasts the highest earnings at $50,698, but its graduation rate of 41% falls below the average of 42% for these institutions. In contrast, North Carolina A & T State University has a higher graduation rate of 56% but slightly lower earnings. This suggests that while some schools may lead in income, their graduation rates may reflect different challenges in student support or engagement.
As you consider these rankings, weigh them against your personal priorities. Think about factors like location, specific engineering programs offered, and campus culture. A school with slightly lower earnings might provide an environment where you feel more at home, which can lead to better long-term success. Assess how the financial aspects, such as net price and debt, align with your family’s financial situation and goals.
Ultimately, the choice of an engineering program at an HBCU can shape your financial future and career path. Graduating from these programs can lead to stable, well-paying jobs, but the journey varies significantly between schools. For one family, choosing the right school means ensuring their child has the best chance of success—financially and academically—while navigating the exciting path ahead.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best HBCUs for Engineering: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best HBCUs for Engineering ranking? +
North Carolina A & T State University in Greensboro, NC ranks #1 in our 2026 Best HBCUs for Engineering ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $44,440 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 56% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Howard University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $63,066 ten years after enrollment, well above the $45,909 average across the 11 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, North Carolina A & T State University leads: graduates earn a median $44,440 against net price of about $10,846 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Howard University has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 69%, compared with a 42% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $21,247 a year across the 11 ranked schools with cost data. North Carolina A & T State University is among the most affordable at roughly $10,846. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best HBCUs for Engineering ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 11 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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