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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in South Carolina

3 Colleges in the United States
545 General Mechanical Engineering Degrees Awarded
$60,840 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Mechanical Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general mechanical engineering students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for General Mechanical Engineering in South Carolina

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general mechanical engineering education in South Carolina.

Top Schools in General Mechanical Engineering

1
Clemson University crest
Clemson University
Clemson, SC

No school ranked higher than Clemson University this year for general mechanical engineering. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. There were roughly 303 general mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $76,932 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,125 to complete this degree. Read more about the general mechanical engineering program at Clemson University

2

University Of South Carolina Columbia is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general mechanical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. About 79% of students finish within six years. University Of South Carolina Columbia awarded about 159 general mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general mechanical engineering program make about $72,370 in their early career. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Get the full general mechanical engineering details for University Of South Carolina Columbia

3

Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general mechanical engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Charleston. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 69 general mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Citadel Military College Of South Carolina in the most recent data year. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Citadel Military College Of South Carolina earn a median of $52,602 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500. See the full general mechanical engineering program report for Citadel Military College Of South Carolina

4

Francis Marion University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general mechanical engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Florence, Francis Marion University is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. There were roughly 14 general mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Francis Marion University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general mechanical engineering degree from Francis Marion University earn around $41,456 in the first couple years of their career. Francis Marion University graduates carry a median of $30,577 in student loans. See the full general mechanical engineering program report for Francis Marion University

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 6 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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