by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/) 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 22 schools on the early-career earnings of their general engineering graduates.
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Below are the schools whose general engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Montgomery College the top school for general engineering graduate earnings in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a public institution. Early-career general engineering graduates from Montgomery College make a median of around $93,606 per year.
A rank of #2 makes Anne Arundel Community College one of the highest-paying schools for general engineering. Located in the suburb of Arnold, Anne Arundel Community College is a public institution. General Engineering graduates of Anne Arundel Community College earn a median of about $92,052 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in general engineering will find them at Cornell University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $115,100.
Students chasing top earnings in general engineering will find them at Brookdale Community College, which ranked #4. Brookdale Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Lincroft. General Engineering graduates of Brookdale Community College earn a median of about $80,662 a year early in their careers.
Hudson Valley Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general engineering schools. Located in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a public institution. General Engineering graduates of Hudson Valley Community College earn a median of about $76,708 a year early in their careers.
Dutchess Community College came in at #6 for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess Community College is a public institution. General Engineering graduates of Dutchess Community College earn a median of about $74,796 a year early in their careers.
Monroe Community College placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for general engineering. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a public institution. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from Monroe Community College typically earn about $73,051 annually.
Elizabethtown College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for general engineering. Located in the suburb of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from Elizabethtown College typically earn about $86,261 annually.
Loyola University Baltimore came in at #9 for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Loyola University Baltimore is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general engineering graduates from Loyola University Baltimore make a median of around $99,541 per year.
Essex County College came in at #10 for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Newark, Essex County College is a public institution. General Engineering graduates of Essex County College earn a median of about $72,634 a year early in their careers.
Lafayette College ranked #11 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.
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore landed the #12 spot for general engineering salaries this year. 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.
Cuny Queensborough Community College placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for general engineering. Located in the city of Bayside, Cuny Queensborough Community College is a public institution. General Engineering graduates of Cuny Queensborough Community College earn a median of about $67,394 a year early in their careers.
Stony Brook University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a public institution. General Engineering graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of about $95,741 a year early in their careers.
Suffolk County Community College earned the #15 position for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Suffolk County Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Selden. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,156.
Geneva College landed the #16 spot for general engineering salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Beaver Falls, Geneva College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from Geneva College typically earn about $79,979 annually.
Messiah College landed the #17 spot for general engineering salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general engineering graduates from Messiah College make a median of around $74,795 per year.
Robert Morris University came in at #18 for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Moon Township, Robert Morris University is a private not-for-profit institution. General Engineering graduates of Robert Morris University earn a median of about $77,607 a year early in their careers.
Frostburg State University came in at #19 for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Frostburg State University is a public school located in the town of Frostburg. Early-career general engineering graduates from Frostburg State University make a median of around $62,968 per year.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for general engineering. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the general engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,905.
Cuny College Of Staten Island came in at #21 for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Cuny College Of Staten Island is a public school located in the city of Staten Island. Early-career general engineering graduates from Cuny College Of Staten Island make a median of around $80,915 per year.
Union County College came in at #22 for general engineering graduate earnings this year. Union County College is a public school located in the suburb of Cranford. After graduating, general engineering degree recipients from Union County College typically earn about $64,157 annually.
This list is compiled 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 · 22 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.