Asheville, North Carolina has 3 accredited schools offering mechanical engineering programs. Asheville has a population of about 94,369. Median household income is $67,221 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 52.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Asheville, NC metro area, the top-earning mechanical engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Managers at a median $160,140 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Mechanical Engineering Schools to Asheville
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer mechanical engineering programs near Asheville, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Asheville city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most
recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS).
To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked
against schools at the same credential level:
BOCSCORE
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Asheville.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Graduation rate
67%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$57,289
Avg net price
$15,435/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 85%
- Programs offered: 122
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$44,440
Avg net price
$10,846/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 79%
- Programs offered: 75
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
97%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$97,800
Avg net price
$29,612/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 97%
- Programs offered: 144
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
85%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$68,758
Avg net price
$17,303/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 94%
- Programs offered: 152
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$55,146
Avg net price
$15,739/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 82%
- Programs offered: 165
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all North Carolina schools on the North Carolina mechanical engineering page.
Mechanical Engineering Wages Near Asheville
Asheville is part of the Asheville, NC metro area (BLS area code 11700). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to North Carolina statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|
| Mechanical Engineers | $108,630 | Asheville, NC | $112,570 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $160,140 | Asheville, NC | $165,948 |
| Industrial Engineers | $100,490 | Asheville, NC | $104,135 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $62,360 | NC statewide | $64,622 |
| Mechanical Drafters | $59,270 | Asheville, NC | $61,420 |
| Engineers, All Other | $105,840 | Asheville, NC | $109,679 |
| Aerospace Engineers | $122,930 | NC statewide | $127,389 |
| Cost Estimators | $75,000 | Asheville, NC | $77,720 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Asheville at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|
| Population | 94,369 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $67,221 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 52.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 96.5 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Asheville-Area Cities With Mechanical Engineering Programs
- Forest City, NC – 41.8 mi away (25,817 pop)
- Greeneville, TN – 43.9 mi away (23,953 pop)
- Greer, SC – 47.5 mi away (29,000 pop)
- Greenville, SC – 51.8 mi away (462,640 pop)
- Easley, SC – 51.9 mi away (20,953 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited mechanical engineering schools are near Asheville, NC?
Our directory has 3 accredited schools offering mechanical engineering programs near Asheville. The closest is Milligan University in Milligan, TN (52.5 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (81.3 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying mechanical engineering roles near Asheville?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying mechanical engineering-related roles near Asheville are: Architectural and Engineering Managers ($160,140), Aerospace Engineers ($122,930), Mechanical Engineers ($108,630). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with North Carolina statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Forest City instead of Asheville?
Forest City, NC is 41.8 miles from Asheville and has its own set of local mechanical engineering programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Asheville an affordable place to study mechanical engineering?
Asheville’s median household income of $67,221 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Asheville while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and North Carolina public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Mechanical Engineering Programs
Other Programs Available in Asheville
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Asheville:
- History programs in Asheville, NC
- English programs in Asheville, NC
- Sociology programs in Asheville, NC
- Anthropology programs in Asheville, NC
- Political Science programs in Asheville, NC
- Philosophy programs in Asheville, NC
- Mathematics programs in Asheville, NC
- General Studies programs in Asheville, NC
- Forensic Psychology programs in Asheville, NC
- Child Development programs in Asheville, NC
- Data Science programs in Asheville, NC
- Electrical Engineering programs in Asheville, NC
- Software Engineering programs in Asheville, NC
- Engineering Management programs in Asheville, NC
- Geography programs in Asheville, NC
- Aviation Management programs in Asheville, NC
- Public Policy programs in Asheville, NC
- International Relations programs in Asheville, NC
- Chemistry programs in Asheville, NC
- Physics programs in Asheville, NC
- Neuroscience programs in Asheville, NC
- Spanish programs in Asheville, NC
- Film programs in Asheville, NC
- Fashion programs in Asheville, NC
- Architecture programs in Asheville, NC
- Urban Planning programs in Asheville, NC
- Industrial Design programs in Asheville, NC
- Game Design programs in Asheville, NC
- Instructional Design programs in Asheville, NC
- Higher Education Administration programs in Asheville, NC
- Global Health programs in Asheville, NC
- Art History programs in Asheville, NC
- Digital Marketing programs in Asheville, NC
- Financial Planning programs in Asheville, NC
- Organizational Management programs in Asheville, NC
- Intelligence Studies programs in Asheville, NC
- Military History programs in Asheville, NC
- Environmental Policy programs in Asheville, NC
- Online Teaching programs in Asheville, NC
- Conflict Resolution programs in Asheville, NC
- Educational Psychology programs in Asheville, NC
- Digital Forensics programs in Asheville, NC
- Web Design programs in Asheville, NC
- Space Studies programs in Asheville, NC
- Government Contracting programs in Asheville, NC
- Professional Sales programs in Asheville, NC
- Creative Writing programs in Asheville, NC
- Environmental Science programs in Asheville, NC
- Nutrition programs in Asheville, NC
- Theology programs in Asheville, NC
- Library Science programs in Asheville, NC
- Applied Behavior Analysis programs in Asheville, NC
- Medical Billing and Coding programs in Asheville, NC
- Medical Assistant programs in Asheville, NC
- Pharmacy Technician programs in Asheville, NC
- Health Science programs in Asheville, NC
- Occupational Safety and Health programs in Asheville, NC
- Entrepreneurship programs in Asheville, NC
- Interior Design programs in Asheville, NC
- Photography programs in Asheville, NC
- Sustainability Management programs in Asheville, NC
- Behavioral Health Science programs in Asheville, NC
- Mental Health Counseling programs in Asheville, NC
- Substance Abuse Counseling programs in Asheville, NC
- Journalism programs in Asheville, NC
- Public Relations programs in Asheville, NC
- Communication Disorders programs in Asheville, NC
- Speech Pathology programs in Asheville, NC
- Technical Communication programs in Asheville, NC
- Professional Writing programs in Asheville, NC
- Strategic Communications programs in Asheville, NC
- Business Development programs in Asheville, NC
- Construction Management programs in Asheville, NC
- Economics programs in Asheville, NC
- Financial Technology programs in Asheville, NC
- Forensic Accounting programs in Asheville, NC
- Health Information Management programs in Asheville, NC
- Hospitality Management programs in Asheville, NC
- International Business programs in Asheville, NC
- Organizational Leadership programs in Asheville, NC
- Management Information Systems programs in Asheville, NC
- Nonprofit Management programs in Asheville, NC
- Operations Management programs in Asheville, NC
- Public Administration programs in Asheville, NC
- Real Estate programs in Asheville, NC
- Recreation Management programs in Asheville, NC
- Retail Management programs in Asheville, NC
- Risk Management programs in Asheville, NC
- Statistics programs in Asheville, NC
- Taxation programs in Asheville, NC
- Corrections programs in Asheville, NC
- Crime Analysis programs in Asheville, NC
- Criminal Justice Administration programs in Asheville, NC
- Criminology programs in Asheville, NC
- Cybercrime programs in Asheville, NC
- Emergency Management programs in Asheville, NC
- Fire Science programs in Asheville, NC
- Forensic Science programs in Asheville, NC
- Legal Services programs in Asheville, NC
- Legal Studies programs in Asheville, NC
- Paralegal programs in Asheville, NC
- Security Management programs in Asheville, NC
- Cloud Computing programs in Asheville, NC
- Computer Engineering programs in Asheville, NC
- Innovation programs in Asheville, NC
- Mobile App Development programs in Asheville, NC
- Software Development programs in Asheville, NC
- User Experience programs in Asheville, NC
- Web Development programs in Asheville, NC
- Artificial Intelligence programs in Asheville, NC
- Machine Learning programs in Asheville, NC
- Supply Chain Management programs in Asheville, NC
- Data Analytics programs in Asheville, NC
- Public Health programs in Asheville, NC
- Human Resources programs in Asheville, NC
- Project Management programs in Asheville, NC
- Special Education programs in Asheville, NC
- Homeland Security programs in Asheville, NC
- Marketing programs in Asheville, NC
- Finance programs in Asheville, NC
- Kinesiology programs in Asheville, NC
- Sports Management programs in Asheville, NC
- Early Childhood Education programs in Asheville, NC
- Elementary Education programs in Asheville, NC
- Biology programs in Asheville, NC
- Communications programs in Asheville, NC
- Graphic Design programs in Asheville, NC
- Human Services programs in Asheville, NC
- MBA programs in Asheville, NC
- Criminal Justice programs in Asheville, NC
- Nursing programs in Asheville, NC
- Business Administration programs in Asheville, NC
- Computer Science programs in Asheville, NC
- Psychology programs in Asheville, NC
- Education programs in Asheville, NC
- Engineering programs in Asheville, NC
- Technology programs in Asheville, NC
- Liberal Arts programs in Asheville, NC
- Healthcare programs in Asheville, NC
- Cybersecurity programs in Asheville, NC
- Accounting programs in Asheville, NC
- Healthcare Administration programs in Asheville, NC
- Social Work programs in Asheville, NC
- Counseling programs in Asheville, NC
Data verified: September 7, 2026.
Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-2035) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
← Back to Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in North Carolina (2026)
