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

8 Colleges in the United States
543 General Mechanical Engineering Degrees Awarded
$64,829 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Mechanical Engineering programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general mechanical engineering programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 12 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 Tennessee

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 general mechanical engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in General Mechanical Engineering

1
Vanderbilt University crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

No school ranked higher than Vanderbilt University this year for general mechanical engineering. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 58 general mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $78,009 early in their careers. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. See the full general mechanical engineering program report for Vanderbilt University

2

Students looking for a strong general mechanical engineering program will find one at The University Of Tennessee, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Knoxville. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 182 general mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general mechanical engineering program make about $65,756 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250. Get the full general mechanical engineering details for The University Of Tennessee

3
Milligan College crest
Milligan College
Milligan, TN

Milligan College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general mechanical engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Milligan. About 63% of students finish within six years. Milligan College awarded about 10 general mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general mechanical engineering program make about $64,327 in their early career. Milligan College graduates carry a median of $26,150 in student loans. Read more about the general mechanical engineering program at Milligan College

4

A rank of #4 makes Tennessee Technological University one of the top schools for general mechanical engineering. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Tennessee Technological University awarded about 136 general mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general mechanical engineering program make about $66,228 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree. Get the full general mechanical engineering details for Tennessee Technological University

5

Students looking for a strong general mechanical engineering program will find one at Christian Brothers University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Memphis, Christian Brothers University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Christian Brothers University awarded about 12 general mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Christian Brothers University earn a median of $71,112 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full general mechanical engineering program report for Christian Brothers University

6
Lipscomb University crest
Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN

Lipscomb University landed the #6 spot for general mechanical engineering this year. Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lipscomb University awarded about 20 general mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general mechanical engineering program make about $67,725 in their early career. Lipscomb University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full general mechanical engineering program report for Lipscomb University

7

The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga placed #7 among the best general mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 39 general mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga in the most recent year. Graduates of the general mechanical engineering program make about $66,517 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,904 to complete this degree. Read more about the general mechanical engineering program at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga

8

University Of Memphis earned the #8 position for general mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 61 general mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Memphis in the most recent year. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $69,386 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general mechanical engineering from University Of Memphis

9

The University Of Tennessee Martin placed #9 among the best general mechanical engineering schools. The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Martin. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Tennessee Martin awarded about 13 general mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general mechanical engineering program make about $40,400 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,770 to complete this degree. Read more about the general mechanical engineering program at The University Of Tennessee Martin

10

Tennessee State University came in at #10 for general mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Tennessee State University graduates 35% of students within six years. Tennessee State University awarded about 12 general mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general mechanical engineering degree from Tennessee State University earn around $58,828 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,489 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general mechanical engineering from Tennessee State University

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 12 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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