by our College Data Analytics Team
[Engineering Related Fields](/majors/engineering-technologies/engineering-related-fields/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their engineering related fields graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools to find where engineering related fields graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose engineering related fields graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in engineering related fields, no school beat Northwestern University this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Engineering Related Fields graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of about $219,145 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #2 makes Wayne State University one of the highest-paying schools for engineering related fields. Wayne State University is a public school located in the city of Detroit. Students who complete the engineering related fields program here go on to a median salary of roughly $128,271.
Michigan State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying engineering related fields schools. Michigan State University is a public school located in the city of East Lansing. Early-career engineering related fields graduates from Michigan State University make a median of around $96,014 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in engineering related fields will find them at University Of Wisconsin Stout, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a public institution. Early-career engineering related fields graduates from University Of Wisconsin Stout make a median of around $83,060 per year.
Western Michigan University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying engineering related fields schools. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a public institution. Early-career engineering related fields graduates from Western Michigan University make a median of around $87,289 per year.
Oakland University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for engineering related fields. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a public institution. Engineering Related Fields graduates of Oakland University earn a median of about $112,624 a year early in their careers.
University Of Michigan Dearborn placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for engineering related fields. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a public school located in the city of Dearborn. Students who complete the engineering related fields program here go on to a median salary of roughly $110,914.
Miami University Oxford placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for engineering related fields. Miami University Oxford is a public school located in the town of Oxford. After graduating, engineering related fields degree recipients from Miami University Oxford typically earn about $74,624 annually.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #9 spot for engineering related fields salaries this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public school located in the city of Champaign. Engineering Related Fields graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $104,381 a year early in their careers.
Central Michigan University earned the #10 position for engineering related fields graduate earnings this year. Central Michigan University is a public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Students who complete the engineering related fields program here go on to a median salary of roughly $104,028.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying engineering related fields schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of West Lafayette. After graduating, engineering related fields degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus typically earn about $72,252 annually.
Illinois Institute Of Technology placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for engineering related fields. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, engineering related fields degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology typically earn about $72,164 annually.
Case Western Reserve University earned the #13 position for engineering related fields graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career engineering related fields graduates from Case Western Reserve University make a median of around $99,198 per year.
Michigan Technological University came in at #14 for engineering related fields graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a public institution. After graduating, engineering related fields degree recipients from Michigan Technological University typically earn about $68,919 annually.
Purdue University Northwest placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for engineering related fields. Purdue University Northwest is a public school located in the suburb of Hammond. Students who complete the engineering related fields program here go on to a median salary of roughly $66,798.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for engineering related fields. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the engineering related fields program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,996.
Eastern Michigan University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for engineering related fields. Eastern Michigan University is a public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. Early-career engineering related fields graduates from Eastern Michigan University make a median of around $62,437 per year.
Northern Illinois University came in at #18 for engineering related fields graduate earnings this year. Northern Illinois University is a public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Engineering Related Fields graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of about $81,686 a year early in their careers.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #19 for engineering related fields graduate earnings this year. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public school located in the city of Indianapolis. After graduating, engineering related fields degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis typically earn about $82,996 annually.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for engineering related fields. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the engineering related fields program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,458.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their engineering related fields graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 20 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.