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 highest-paying schools turn a mechanical engineering technology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the early-career earnings of their mechanical engineering technology graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose mechanical engineering technology graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in mechanical engineering technology, no school beat Kent State University At Tuscarawas this year. Kent State University At Tuscarawas is a public school located in the town of New Philadelphia. Students who complete the mechanical engineering technology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,845.
A rank of #2 makes Central Michigan University one of the highest-paying schools for mechanical engineering technology. 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.
University Of Dayton came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mechanical engineering technology schools. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the mechanical engineering technology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $85,129.
Ferris State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in mechanical engineering technology, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a public institution. Students who complete the mechanical engineering technology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $84,366.
A rank of #5 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the highest-paying schools for mechanical engineering technology. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Mechanical Engineering Technology graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $81,374 a year early in their careers.
University Of Toledo placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for mechanical engineering technology. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a public institution. Mechanical Engineering Technology graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of about $82,792 a year early in their careers.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #7 for mechanical engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public institution. Students who complete the mechanical engineering technology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $83,383.
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mechanical engineering technology schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a public institution. Early-career mechanical engineering technology graduates from Ivy Tech Community College make a median of around $68,417 per year.
Indiana State University landed the #9 spot for mechanical engineering technology salaries this year. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a public institution. Mechanical Engineering Technology graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of about $80,156 a year early in their careers.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for mechanical engineering technology. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. Early-career mechanical engineering technology graduates from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis make a median of around $79,190 per year.
Cuyahoga Community College District placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for mechanical engineering technology. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a public institution. After graduating, mechanical engineering technology degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District typically earn about $66,859 annually.
Michigan Technological University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for mechanical engineering technology. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a public institution. Mechanical Engineering Technology graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of about $84,118 a year early in their careers.
Owens Community College placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for mechanical engineering technology. Set in the suburb of Perrysburg, Owens Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the mechanical engineering technology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $72,739.
Youngstown State University placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for mechanical engineering technology. Youngstown State University is a public school located in the city of Youngstown. Early-career mechanical engineering technology graduates from Youngstown State University make a median of around $86,167 per year.
Purdue University Northwest ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mechanical engineering technology schools. Located in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a public institution. Mechanical Engineering Technology graduates of Purdue University Northwest earn a median of about $71,650 a year early in their careers.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #16 for mechanical engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution. Mechanical Engineering Technology graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of about $74,324 a year early in their careers.
University Of Akron Main Campus placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for mechanical engineering technology. University Of Akron Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Akron. After graduating, mechanical engineering technology degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus typically earn about $70,245 annually.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mechanical engineering technology schools. Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a public school located in the city of Cincinnati. After graduating, mechanical engineering technology degree recipients from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College typically earn about $72,185 annually.
Eastern Michigan University came in at #19 for mechanical engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. After graduating, mechanical engineering technology degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University typically earn about $92,393 annually.
Sinclair Community College came in at #20 for mechanical engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Sinclair Community College is a public school located in the city of Dayton. Early-career mechanical engineering technology graduates from Sinclair Community College make a median of around $48,312 per year.
Northern Michigan University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for mechanical engineering technology. Northern Michigan University is a public school located in the town of Marquette. Mechanical Engineering Technology graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of about $77,061 a year early in their careers.
Stark State College earned the #22 position for mechanical engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a public institution. After graduating, mechanical engineering technology degree recipients from Stark State College typically earn about $40,138 annually.
Cleveland State University placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for mechanical engineering technology. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a public institution. After graduating, mechanical engineering technology degree recipients from Cleveland State University typically earn about $56,332 annually.
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 · 23 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.