by our College Data Analytics Team
[Engineering Related Fields](/majors/engineering-technologies/engineering-related-fields/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the early-career earnings of their engineering related fields graduates.
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Below are the schools whose engineering related fields graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked University Of South Carolina Upstate the top school for engineering related fields graduate earnings in the Southeast Region. Located in the suburb of Spartanburg, University Of South Carolina Upstate is a public institution. Early-career engineering related fields graduates from University Of South Carolina Upstate make a median of around $85,996 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in engineering related fields will find them at Clemson University, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a public institution. After graduating, engineering related fields degree recipients from Clemson University typically earn about $90,243 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University one of the highest-paying schools for engineering related fields. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Engineering Related Fields graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of about $98,448 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Middle Tennessee State University earned it the #4 place for engineering related fields. Middle Tennessee State University is a public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Engineering Related Fields graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of about $79,773 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying engineering related fields schools. Set in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a public institution. Students who complete the engineering related fields program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,588.
Morehead State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying engineering related fields schools. Morehead State University is a public school located in the town of Morehead. After graduating, engineering related fields degree recipients from Morehead State University typically earn about $56,225 annually.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries engineering related fields graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 6 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.