by our College Data Analytics Team
[Mechanical Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/mechanical-engineering-technology/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their mechanical engineering technology graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 81 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying mechanical engineering technology schools.
What’s on this page:
The mechanical engineering technology program you select can have a big impact on your future earnings. That is why we built our Highest Paid Mechanical Engineering Technology Graduates ranking. We rank each school on the early-career earnings of its mechanical engineering technology graduates to surface the highest-paying programs.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Highest Paid Mechanical Engineering Technology Graduates list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
Below are the schools whose mechanical engineering technology graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is California Maritime Academy, our #1 for mechanical engineering technology graduate salaries in the United States. Set in the city of Vallejo, California Maritime Academy is a public institution. Students who complete the mechanical engineering technology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $98,661.
Students chasing top earnings in mechanical engineering technology will find them at Nhti Concords Community College, which ranked #2. Nhti Concords Community College is a public school located in the town of Concord. Early-career mechanical engineering technology graduates from Nhti Concords Community College make a median of around $81,472 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in mechanical engineering technology will find them at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide, which ranked #3. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Early-career mechanical engineering technology graduates from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide make a median of around $93,433 per year.
Eastern Washington University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mechanical engineering technology schools. Eastern Washington University is a public school located in the town of Cheney. After graduating, mechanical engineering technology degree recipients from Eastern Washington University typically earn about $80,278 annually.
A rank of #5 makes Central Connecticut State University one of the highest-paying schools for mechanical engineering technology. Set in the suburb of New Britain, Central Connecticut State University is a public institution. Students who complete the mechanical engineering technology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $87,854.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mechanical engineering technology schools. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a public institution. Mechanical Engineering Technology graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of about $89,786 a year early in their careers.
Rochester Institute Of Technology ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mechanical engineering technology schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the mechanical engineering technology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $89,798.
Kent State University At Tuscarawas came in at #8 for mechanical engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Kent State University At Tuscarawas is a public school located in the town of New Philadelphia. Mechanical Engineering Technology graduates of Kent State University At Tuscarawas earn a median of about $78,845 a year early in their careers.
Central Michigan University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mechanical engineering technology schools. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a public institution. After graduating, mechanical engineering technology degree recipients from Central Michigan University typically earn about $90,234 annually.
New England Institute Of Technology placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for mechanical engineering technology. New England Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of East Greenwich. Early-career mechanical engineering technology graduates from New England Institute Of Technology make a median of around $78,809 per year.
University Of Dayton landed the #11 spot for mechanical engineering technology salaries this year. University Of Dayton is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. After graduating, mechanical engineering technology degree recipients from University Of Dayton typically earn about $85,129 annually.
Hudson Valley Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mechanical engineering technology schools. Set in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a public institution. Early-career mechanical engineering technology graduates from Hudson Valley Community College make a median of around $70,905 per year.
Central Washington University earned the #13 position for mechanical engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Central Washington University is a public school located in the town of Ellensburg. Mechanical Engineering Technology graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of about $83,351 a year early in their careers.
Ferris State University landed the #14 spot for mechanical engineering technology salaries this year. Ferris State University is a public school located in the town of Big Rapids. After graduating, mechanical engineering technology degree recipients from Ferris State University typically earn about $84,366 annually.
Weber State University landed the #15 spot for mechanical engineering technology salaries this year. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a public institution. Students who complete the mechanical engineering technology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $83,786.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for mechanical engineering technology. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career mechanical engineering technology graduates from Purdue University Main Campus make a median of around $81,374 per year.
Vermont Technical College came in at #17 for mechanical engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Randolph, Vermont Technical College is a public institution. Early-career mechanical engineering technology graduates from Vermont Technical College make a median of around $69,638 per year.
University Of Toledo came in at #18 for mechanical engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a public institution. Early-career mechanical engineering technology graduates from University Of Toledo make a median of around $82,792 per year.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #19 for mechanical engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public school located in the city of Fort Wayne. Early-career mechanical engineering technology graduates from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne make a median of around $83,383 per year.
Ivy Tech Community College placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for mechanical engineering technology. Ivy Tech Community College is a public school located in the city of Indianapolis. After graduating, mechanical engineering technology degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College typically earn about $68,417 annually.
Indiana State University came in at #21 for mechanical engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a public institution. Students who complete the mechanical engineering technology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,156.
Tidewater Community College came in at #22 for mechanical engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a public institution. Mechanical Engineering Technology graduates of Tidewater Community College earn a median of about $60,555 a year early in their careers.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for mechanical engineering technology. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. Students who complete the mechanical engineering technology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $79,190.
Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #24 spot for mechanical engineering technology salaries this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a public institution. Early-career mechanical engineering technology graduates from Cuyahoga Community College District make a median of around $66,859 per year.
Farmingdale State College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mechanical engineering technology schools. Farmingdale State College is a public school located in the suburb of Farmingdale. After graduating, mechanical engineering technology degree recipients from Farmingdale State College typically earn about $85,932 annually.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid mechanical engineering technology ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries mechanical engineering technology 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 · 81 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.
