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Engineering · Engineering Rank #3 of 47

Engineeringat University of North Carolina Asheville

Graduates earn $73,410/yr in their first year — about 6.0% above the national Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $781K; scenarios range from $684K to $808K depending on AI disruption.

Asheville, NC Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
71 STRONG
72
Optimistic
69
Pessimistic
Earnings
$73,410
1-year post-graduation
ROI
29.7x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$781K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
51% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of North Carolina Asheville

UNC Asheville's General Engineering program excels by providing a robust, interdisciplinary foundation within a liberal arts environment. This approach cultivates highly adaptable problem-solvers, making graduates valuable across diverse sectors, from regional manufacturing and design firms to technology companies in larger hubs. While Asheville itself isn't a massive industrial center, the program's strength lies in equipping you with versatile skills, allowing you to pivot into roles like project management, systems integration, or specialized design. Many graduates leverage this broad base to pursue further on-the-job training or advanced degrees, securing opportunities that demand both technical acumen and critical thinking. To maximize your prospects, actively seek out internships and co-ops to gain practical experience and begin defining your professional niche during your studies.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$684K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score69/100
Earnings Multiple22.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$781K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score71/100
Earnings Multiple26.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$808K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score72/100
Earnings Multiple27.1x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of North Carolina Asheville's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Engineering graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Engineers, all other
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 9,300 openings/yr
$117,750/yr
Moderate
3
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Engineering

How University of North Carolina Asheville stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
MA · Private nonprofit
63
DW Score
$109K
1-yr earn
4.0x
ROI
Harvey Mudd College
CA · Private nonprofit
62
DW Score
$92K
1-yr earn
3.7x
ROI
Brown University
RI · Private nonprofit
60
DW Score
$86K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
Top score
University of California-Davis
CA · Public
72
DW Score
$83K
1-yr earn
19.5x
ROI
McNeese State University
LA · Public
72
DW Score
$76K
1-yr earn
28.4x
ROI
Also at University of North Carolina Asheville

Other top programs at University of North Carolina Asheville

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of North Carolina Asheville, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Engineering offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Engineering at University of North Carolina Asheville

How does University of North Carolina Asheville's Engineering program score?

A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of North Carolina Asheville's Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Engineering to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 46% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.