by our College Data Analytics Team
[Manufacturing Engineering](/majors/engineering/manufacturing-engineering/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a manufacturing engineering degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying manufacturing engineering schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose manufacturing engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in manufacturing engineering, no school beat California State Polytechnic University Pomona this year. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public school located in the suburb of Pomona. After graduating, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona typically earn about $93,335 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Georgia Southern University earned it the #2 place for manufacturing engineering. Set in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a public institution. Students who complete the manufacturing engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $83,438.
A rank of #3 makes Oregon State University one of the highest-paying schools for manufacturing engineering. Oregon State University is a public school located in the city of Corvallis. After graduating, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from Oregon State University typically earn about $92,078 annually.
Brigham Young University Provo produces some of the highest-paid graduates in manufacturing engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the manufacturing engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $91,738.
Dunwoody College Of Technology came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying manufacturing engineering schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Dunwoody College Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from Dunwoody College Of Technology typically earn about $77,857 annually.
Grand Valley State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying manufacturing engineering schools. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a public institution. After graduating, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from Grand Valley State University typically earn about $76,754 annually.
University Of Wisconsin Stout landed the #7 spot for manufacturing engineering salaries this year. Located in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a public institution. Early-career manufacturing engineering graduates from University Of Wisconsin Stout make a median of around $81,185 per year.
Texas State University San Marcos earned the #8 position for manufacturing engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a public institution. Students who complete the manufacturing engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $86,375.
Bradley University came in at #9 for manufacturing engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from Bradley University typically earn about $88,449 annually.
Arizona State University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for manufacturing engineering. Arizona State University is a public school located in the city of Tempe. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of about $74,119 a year early in their careers.
Ferris State University landed the #11 spot for manufacturing engineering salaries this year. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a public institution. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of about $77,154 a year early in their careers.
Western Washington University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying manufacturing engineering schools. Western Washington University is a public school located in the city of Bellingham. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of Western Washington University earn a median of about $65,863 a year early in their careers.
Robert Morris University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying manufacturing engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Moon Township, Robert Morris University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from Robert Morris University typically earn about $62,012 annually.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Manufacturing Engineering rankings across degree levels:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries manufacturing 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 · 13 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.
