by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a general engineering degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 83 schools to find where general engineering graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Where you study general engineering affects what graduates go on to earn. That is why we built our Highest Paid General Engineering Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose general engineering degrees pay off the most.
Read more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Highest Paid General Engineering Graduates list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Below are the schools whose general engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
Montgomery College tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying general engineering schools in the United States. Montgomery College is a public school located in the city of Rockville. Early-career general engineering graduates from Montgomery College make a median of around $93,606 per year.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general engineering schools. University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public school located in the city of Birmingham. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham typically earn about $129,181 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in general engineering will find them at Dartmouth College, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from Dartmouth College typically earn about $120,347 annually.
Anne Arundel Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in general engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Arnold, Anne Arundel Community College is a public institution. Early-career general engineering graduates from Anne Arundel Community College make a median of around $92,052 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Olin College earned it the #5 place for general engineering. Located in the suburb of Needham, Olin College is a private not-for-profit institution. General Engineering graduates of Olin College earn a median of about $128,427 a year early in their careers.
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Cornell University earned the #6 position for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. General Engineering graduates of Cornell University earn a median of about $115,100 a year early in their careers.
Chattanooga State Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general engineering schools. Set in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a public institution. General Engineering graduates of Chattanooga State Community College earn a median of about $82,823 a year early in their careers.
Harvey Mudd College landed the #8 spot for general engineering salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Harvey Mudd College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general engineering graduates from Harvey Mudd College make a median of around $123,894 per year.
Brookdale Community College came in at #9 for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,662.
Hudson Valley Community College came in at #10 for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a public institution. Early-career general engineering graduates from Hudson Valley Community College make a median of around $76,708 per year.
Brown University landed the #11 spot for general engineering salaries this year. Brown University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. General Engineering graduates of Brown University earn a median of about $117,101 a year early in their careers.
Virginia Western Community College landed the #12 spot for general engineering salaries this year. Virginia Western Community College is a public school located in the city of Roanoke. General Engineering graduates of Virginia Western Community College earn a median of about $76,297 a year early in their careers.
Normandale Community College placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for general engineering. Set in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a public institution. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from Normandale Community College typically earn about $76,152 annually.
Colorado School Of Mines placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for general engineering. Colorado School Of Mines is a public school located in the suburb of Golden. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $93,878.
Amarillo College landed the #15 spot for general engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a public institution. Early-career general engineering graduates from Amarillo College make a median of around $75,986 per year.
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for general engineering. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Early-career general engineering graduates from University Of Virginia Main Campus make a median of around $86,699 per year.
Wake Technical Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general engineering schools. Wake Technical Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Raleigh. General Engineering graduates of Wake Technical Community College earn a median of about $75,552 a year early in their careers.
Texas Christian University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general engineering schools. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. General Engineering graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of about $103,407 a year early in their careers.
Mcneese State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general engineering schools. Mcneese State University is a public school located in the city of Lake Charles. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $99,434.
Arizona State University earned the #20 position for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $98,096.
Dutchess Community College earned the #21 position for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Dutchess Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from Dutchess Community College typically earn about $74,796 annually.
Michigan State University came in at #22 for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. General Engineering graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of about $96,847 a year early in their careers.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College landed the #23 spot for general engineering salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a public institution. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College typically earn about $74,135 annually.
Ozarks Technical Community College came in at #24 for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,465.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville landed the #25 spot for general engineering salaries this year. University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a public school located in the city of Asheville. Early-career general engineering graduates from University Of North Carolina At Asheville make a median of around $91,514 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid general engineering ranking:
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This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their general engineering graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 83 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.