Mechanical Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 451 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best mechanical engineering schools.
DEBUG: No relevant offers, showing generic ESYOH widget
Choosing a Great Mechanical Engineering School
The school you choose for mechanical engineering can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Mechanical Engineering Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Mechanical 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.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Mechanical Engineering Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Stanford University tops our 2026 ranking of the best mechanical engineering schools. 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 261 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $132,583 early in their careers. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 450 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
A rank of #3 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the top schools for mechanical engineering. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 223 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data 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.
More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from Johns Hopkins University
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the top schools for mechanical engineering. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 405 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $90,902 in their early career. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of California Berkeley came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 447 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $97,864. Typical student debt for the program is $13,200.
More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from University Of California Berkeley
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #6 for mechanical engineering this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 398 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $92,881 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
Get the full mechanical engineering details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Southern California landed the #7 spot for mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 190 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $95,046 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from University Of Southern California
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #8 position for mechanical engineering this year. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology awarded about 282 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $119,923 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,334.
Get the full mechanical engineering details for Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Cornell University landed the #9 spot for mechanical engineering this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 272 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $92,514. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Cornell University
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #10 for mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 322 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $93,954 in their early career. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for University Of California Los Angeles
Duke University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. About 111 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $89,938. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from Duke University
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 341 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $81,716 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Get the full mechanical engineering details for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #13 for mechanical engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 668 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $84,890. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A And M University College Station
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #14 for mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 819 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $101,895 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,937.
Get the full mechanical engineering details for Purdue University Main Campus
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #15 among the best mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 242 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $88,270. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $16,960 in student loans.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York
Northwestern University earned the #16 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%. There were roughly 142 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $79,616. Typical student debt for the program is $15,334.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Northwestern University
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #17 for mechanical engineering this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 346 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $88,747 in the first couple years of their career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #18 for mechanical engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 466 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $92,369 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $21,750 in student loans.
Get the full mechanical engineering details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #19 among the best mechanical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 309 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $87,761 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University Of California San Diego earned the #20 position for mechanical engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 278 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $91,276. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
Get the full mechanical engineering details for University Of California San Diego
University Of Notre Dame came in at #21 for mechanical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 145 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $84,999 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for University Of Notre Dame
San Jose State University came in at #22 for mechanical engineering this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 216 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at San Jose State University
Santa Clara University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 55 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Santa Clara University generally make around $102,962. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Santa Clara University
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 345 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $76,485. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full mechanical engineering details for University Of Maryland College Park
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #25 for mechanical engineering this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 293 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $85,070 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,777.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Carnegie Mellon University
Rest of the Top 50 Mechanical Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s mechanical engineering ranking:
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 · 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).
