Manufacturing Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 89 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best manufacturing engineering schools.
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Choosing a Great Manufacturing Engineering School
The manufacturing engineering program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Manufacturing Engineering rankings. For our Best Overall Manufacturing Engineering School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Manufacturing Engineering Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the 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.
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Best Schools for Manufacturing Engineering in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the manufacturing engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Northwestern University tops our 2026 ranking of the best manufacturing engineering schools. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 16 manufacturing engineering degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their manufacturing engineering degree from Northwestern University earn around $78,551 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
See the full manufacturing engineering program report for Northwestern University
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best manufacturing engineering schools. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 manufacturing engineering degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent year. Graduates of the manufacturing engineering program make about $65,183 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,923 to complete this degree.
See the full manufacturing engineering program report for University Of St Thomas Minnesota
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in manufacturing engineering, ranking #3. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 manufacturing engineering degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Students who receive their manufacturing engineering degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn around $61,010 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,273 to complete this degree.
See the full manufacturing engineering program report for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best manufacturing engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 15 manufacturing engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in manufacturing engineering from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best manufacturing engineering schools. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 manufacturing engineering degrees were awarded at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent year. Graduates of the manufacturing engineering program make about $79,549 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,083.
Get the full manufacturing engineering details for California State Polytechnic University Pomona
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best manufacturing engineering schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 manufacturing engineering degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $59,622. Typical student debt for the program is $22,113.
Get the full manufacturing engineering details for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Colorado School Of Mines placed #7 among the best manufacturing engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. Colorado School Of Mines graduates 82% of students within six years. About 15 manufacturing engineering degrees were awarded at Colorado School Of Mines in the most recent year. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of Colorado School Of Mines earn a median of $76,298 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,521.
See the full manufacturing engineering program report for Colorado School Of Mines
Boston University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best manufacturing engineering schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. About 11 manufacturing engineering degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,598 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,232.
Read more about the manufacturing engineering program at Boston University
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #9 for manufacturing engineering this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Brigham Young University Provo graduates 81% of students within six years. Brigham Young University Provo awarded about 44 manufacturing engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their manufacturing engineering degree from Brigham Young University Provo earn around $69,520 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full manufacturing engineering details for Brigham Young University Provo
Pennsylvania State University World Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best manufacturing engineering schools. This large public university is located in the city of University Park. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 manufacturing engineering students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent data year.
Get the full manufacturing engineering details for Pennsylvania State University World Campus
Arizona State University earned the #11 position for manufacturing engineering this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 32 manufacturing engineering degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $74,119. Typical student debt for the program is $24,253.
See the full manufacturing engineering program report for Arizona State University
Oregon State University earned the #12 position for manufacturing engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Corvallis. Oregon State University graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 manufacturing engineering students who graduated with this degree at Oregon State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their manufacturing engineering degree from Oregon State University earn around $72,154 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,457.
Read more about the manufacturing engineering program at Oregon State University
California State University Northridge landed the #13 spot for manufacturing engineering this year. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 22 manufacturing engineering degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $48,437. Students borrow a median of $16,202 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in manufacturing engineering from California State University Northridge
Rochester Institute Of Technology placed #14 among the best manufacturing engineering schools. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 16 manufacturing engineering degrees were awarded at Rochester Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the manufacturing engineering program make about $63,515 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,491.
Read more about the manufacturing engineering program at Rochester Institute Of Technology
University Of Michigan Dearborn ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best manufacturing engineering schools. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 15 manufacturing engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Dearborn in the most recent data year. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $62,536 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,516 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in manufacturing engineering from University Of Michigan Dearborn
Southern Methodist University earned the #16 position for manufacturing engineering this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 24 manufacturing engineering students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $115,893. Typical student debt for the program is $20,712.
Read more about the manufacturing engineering program at Southern Methodist University
University Of North Alabama landed the #17 spot for manufacturing engineering this year. Set in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Alabama awarded about 13 manufacturing engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of University Of North Alabama earn a median of $41,357 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,291.
More information about a degree in manufacturing engineering from University Of North Alabama
Georgia Southern University came in at #18 for manufacturing engineering this year. Set in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 13 manufacturing engineering degrees were awarded at Georgia Southern University in the most recent year. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of Georgia Southern University earn a median of $83,438 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the manufacturing engineering program at Georgia Southern University
Savannah College Of Art And Design came in at #19 for manufacturing engineering this year. Savannah College Of Art And Design is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Savannah. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. Savannah College Of Art And Design awarded about 21 manufacturing engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the manufacturing engineering program make about $40,671 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,346.
See the full manufacturing engineering program report for Savannah College Of Art And Design
Texas State University San Marcos ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best manufacturing engineering schools. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 41 manufacturing engineering students who graduated with this degree at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent data year. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $68,886 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,375 to complete this degree.
See the full manufacturing engineering program report for Texas State University San Marcos
Ferris State University placed #21 among the best manufacturing engineering schools. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. Ferris State University graduates 56% of students within six years. Ferris State University awarded about 27 manufacturing engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their manufacturing engineering degree from Ferris State University earn around $68,715 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
See the full manufacturing engineering program report for Ferris State University
National University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best manufacturing engineering schools. National University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 manufacturing engineering students who graduated with this degree at National University in the most recent data year. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of National University earn a median of $69,080 early in their careers. National University graduates carry a median of $30,426 in student loans.
More information about a degree in manufacturing engineering from National University
Wichita State University placed #23 among the best manufacturing engineering schools. Wichita State University is a large public school located in the city of Wichita. Wichita State University graduates 51% of students within six years. About 14 manufacturing engineering degrees were awarded at Wichita State University in the most recent year. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of $49,278 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,262 to complete this degree.
Read more about the manufacturing engineering program at Wichita State University
Western Washington University earned the #24 position for manufacturing engineering this year. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 18 manufacturing engineering degrees were awarded at Western Washington University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $65,863. Western Washington University graduates carry a median of $21,425 in student loans.
See the full manufacturing engineering program report for Western Washington University
The University Of Texas Pan American earned the #25 position for manufacturing engineering this year. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 24 manufacturing engineering degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas Pan American in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $46,404. The University Of Texas Pan American graduates carry a median of $14,694 in student loans.
See the full manufacturing engineering program report for The University Of Texas Pan American
Rest of the Top 29 Manufacturing Engineering Schools
These schools also placed among the best for manufacturing engineering this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 89 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
