by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a general engineering degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 44 schools on the early-career earnings of their general engineering graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send general engineering graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of Alabama At Birmingham, our #1 for general engineering graduate salaries in the United States. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public institution. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $129,181.
A rank of #2 makes Dartmouth College one of the highest-paying schools for general engineering. Dartmouth College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $120,347.
Students chasing top earnings in general engineering will find them at Olin College, which ranked #3. Olin College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Needham. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from Olin College typically earn about $128,427 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Cornell University earned it the #4 place for general engineering. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general engineering graduates from Cornell University make a median of around $115,100 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in general engineering will find them at Harvey Mudd College, which ranked #5. Harvey Mudd College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $123,894.
Brown University earned the #6 position for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general engineering graduates from Brown University make a median of around $117,101 per year.
Colorado School Of Mines came in at #7 for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Colorado School Of Mines is a public school located in the suburb of Golden. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $93,878.
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #8 position for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus typically earn about $86,699 annually.
Texas Christian University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for general engineering. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. General Engineering graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of about $103,407 a year early in their careers.
Mcneese State University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for general engineering. Mcneese State University is a public school located in the city of Lake Charles. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from Mcneese State University typically earn about $99,434 annually.
Arizona State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general engineering schools. Arizona State University is a public school located in the city of Tempe. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from Arizona State University typically earn about $98,096 annually.
Michigan State University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for general engineering. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from Michigan State University typically earn about $96,847 annually.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general engineering schools. University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a public school located in the city of Asheville. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Asheville typically earn about $91,514 annually.
University Of Southern Indiana placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for general engineering. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a public institution. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from University Of Southern Indiana typically earn about $86,984 annually.
Mercer University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for general engineering. Mercer University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Macon. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from Mercer University typically earn about $88,497 annually.
Elizabethtown College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $86,261.
Loyola University Baltimore placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for general engineering. Set in the city of Baltimore, Loyola University Baltimore is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $99,541.
Wentworth Institute Of Technology landed the #18 spot for general engineering salaries this year. Wentworth Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from Wentworth Institute Of Technology typically earn about $78,211 annually.
James Madison University placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for general engineering. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a public institution. Early-career general engineering graduates from James Madison University make a median of around $88,212 per year.
Olivet Nazarene University earned the #20 position for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Olivet Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. General Engineering graduates of Olivet Nazarene University earn a median of about $92,885 a year early in their careers.
Calvin College came in at #21 for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Calvin College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from Calvin College typically earn about $88,670 annually.
Lafayette College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general engineering schools. Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Easton. General Engineering graduates of Lafayette College earn a median of about $76,507 a year early in their careers.
Hope College placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for general engineering. Set in the city of Holland, Hope College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general engineering graduates from Hope College make a median of around $87,793 per year.
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general engineering schools. Located in the town of Princess Anne, University Of Maryland Eastern Shore is a public institution. General Engineering graduates of University Of Maryland Eastern Shore earn a median of about $73,839 a year early in their careers.
East Carolina University came in at #25 for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a public institution. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from East Carolina University typically earn about $85,744 annually.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid general engineering ranking:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid General Engineering rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries general engineering 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 · 44 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.