Mechanical Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 451 schools to find the best for mechanical engineering students.
Our analysis ranked Pennsylvania State University Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in mechanical engineering. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 385 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year.
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The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 283 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $82,227 in their early career. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans.
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University Of California Berkeley came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 213 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $88,497. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $13,200 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for mechanical engineering. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 269 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $80,187 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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Cornell University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Cornell University awarded about 152 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $85,440 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,500.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #6 among the best mechanical engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 277 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $82,823 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $21,750 in student loans.
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Duke University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. Duke University awarded about 70 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $89,938 in their early career. Duke University graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans.
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Stanford University landed the #8 spot for mechanical engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. About 56 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $132,583. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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Johns Hopkins University earned the #9 position for mechanical engineering this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 44 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $114,588. Typical student debt for the program is $10,750.
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Texas A And M University College Station placed #10 among the best mechanical engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 486 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $77,785 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #11 position for mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 104 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $83,957 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,334.
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Northwestern University earned the #12 position for mechanical engineering this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Northwestern University awarded about 78 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $75,253 in their early career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $15,334 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 250 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $74,611 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Los Angeles came in at #14 for mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 186 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $79,016. Typical student debt for the program is $17,000.
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University Of Southern California landed the #15 spot for mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 93 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $83,356 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus placed #16 among the best mechanical engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 510 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $80,374 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,937 to complete this degree.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #17 spot for mechanical engineering this year. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 288 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $83,011. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #18 spot for mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 297 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $79,359. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #19 for mechanical engineering this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 81 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $72,036 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,960 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University placed #20 among the best mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 168 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Carnegie Mellon University placed #21 among the best mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 114 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $76,523 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,777 to complete this degree.
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University Of Notre Dame landed the #22 spot for mechanical engineering this year. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 116 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $84,999 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of California San Diego came in at #23 for mechanical engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 180 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $69,555. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
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Washington University In St Louis came in at #24 for mechanical engineering this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 113 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $72,057 in their early career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
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Santa Clara University placed #25 among the best mechanical engineering schools. Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 39 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Santa Clara University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $81,865 in their early career. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Mechanical Engineering Schools
These schools also placed among the best for mechanical engineering this year:
This ranking is produced 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 · 451 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).
