Best Schools for Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering graduates earn a median of $64,630 within two years of graduation, ranking #21 out of 292 tracked majors — 82% above the median across all fields. There are 297 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 33,493 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: SUNY Maritime College graduates earn $87,973 while Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico-Orlando graduates earn $33,993 — a $53,980 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is modest: Mechanical Engineering graduates see an average 0% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

297

Schools

$64,630

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#21

of 292 Majors

33,493

Graduates

Public vs Private: Mechanical Engineering

Public (198 schools)

$64,481

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (94 schools)

$65,999

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $1,518 more in early earnings on average for Mechanical Engineering graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Mechanical Engineering by State

Top Mechanical Engineering Schools by Graduate Earnings

SUNY Maritime College

Throggs Neck, NY · Public

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA · Private

$83,177

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 3.1%

Duke University

Durham, NC · Private

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA · Private

University of Michigan-Dearborn

Dearborn, MI · Public

Kettering University

Flint, MI · Private

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA · Private

California State University Maritime Academy

Vallejo, CA · Public

Stanford University

Stanford, CA · Private

Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

Needham, MA · Private

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, MI · Public

Lawrence Technological University

Southfield, MI · Private

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI · Public

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public

Wayne State University

Detroit, MI · Public

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA · Private

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA · Private

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI · Public

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS · Public

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX · Public

Lamar University

Beaumont, TX · Public

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, MI · Public

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · Private

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX · Private

University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL · Private

Northeastern University

Boston, MA · Private

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Terre Haute, IN · Private

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public

University of Toledo

Toledo, OH · Public

Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI · Public

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

Villanova University

Villanova, PA · Private

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Baton Rouge, LA · Public

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN · Private

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public

University of Houston

Houston, TX · Public

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD · Private

University of Michigan-Flint

Flint, MI · Public

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI · Public

Ohio Northern University

Ada, OH · Private

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Atlanta, GA · Public

New York Institute of Technology

Old Westbury, NY · Private

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public

Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, OH · Private

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN · Private

Showing top 50 of 297 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Chemical Engineering $66,453 Metallurgical Engineering $66,313 Materials Engineering $65,789 Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering $64,886 Architectural Engineering $64,811 Construction Management $64,579

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Mechanical Engineering?

SUNY Maritime College ranks #1 for Mechanical Engineering with median graduate earnings of $87,973 within two years. There are 297 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Mechanical Engineering graduates earn?

Mechanical Engineering graduates earn an average of $64,630 within two years of graduation. This is 82% above the median across all majors. Earnings range from $33,993 to $87,973 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top Mechanical Engineering program?

The average acceptance rate across Mechanical Engineering programs is 66.9%. The most selective program is at California Institute of Technology with a 3.1% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Mechanical Engineering?

Private Mechanical Engineering programs average $65,999 in early earnings vs $64,481 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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