2027 Best General Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
General Mechanical Engineering programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 169 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general mechanical engineering students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for General Mechanical Engineering in the United States
These are the top schools for a master’s degree in general mechanical engineering, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Top Schools in General Mechanical Engineering
University Of Southern California tops our 2027 ranking of the best general mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 125 general mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $106,735. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general mechanical engineering, ranking #2. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 139 general mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $121,408. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong general mechanical engineering program will find one at Johns Hopkins University, which ranked #3. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 176 general mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general mechanical engineering degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $114,588 in the first couple years of their career. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans.
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Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general mechanical engineering, ranking #4. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 117 general mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general mechanical engineering program make about $155,889 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,334.
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Students looking for a strong general mechanical engineering program will find one at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 121 general mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general mechanical engineering program make about $104,503 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,960 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Los Angeles placed #6 among the best general mechanical engineering schools. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 86 general mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their general mechanical engineering degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $108,892 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #7 for general mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 92 general mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $99,576. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans.
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Duke University earned the #8 position for general mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. About 34 general mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Duke University earn a median of $89,938 early in their careers. Duke University graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans.
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University Of California Berkeley placed #9 among the best general mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 205 general mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Graduates of the general mechanical engineering program make about $97,864 in their early career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $13,200 in student loans.
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Cornell University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best general mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. Cornell University awarded about 84 general mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general mechanical engineering degree from Cornell University earn around $99,587 in the first couple years of their career. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
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Purdue University Main Campus came in at #11 for general mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 277 general mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general mechanical engineering degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $105,764 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,937 to complete this degree.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #12 among the best general mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 89 general mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $105,575. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
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University Of California San Diego earned the #13 position for general mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. University Of California San Diego awarded about 100 general mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $112,996. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
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Yale University landed the #14 spot for general mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. About 30 general mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
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University Of Pennsylvania landed the #15 spot for general mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 91 general mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $94,109 early in their careers. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $12,455 in student loans.
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Princeton University landed the #16 spot for general mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Princeton University awarded about 31 general mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general mechanical engineering program make about $85,328 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,888.
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Tufts University placed #17 among the best general mechanical engineering schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 general mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $78,441. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #18 among the best general mechanical engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 105 general mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general mechanical engineering degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $101,504 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best general mechanical engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 166 general mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $93,716 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,750 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Irvine placed #20 among the best general mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. There were roughly 67 general mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general mechanical engineering program make about $67,633 in their early career. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $14,500 in student loans.
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Carnegie Mellon University earned the #21 position for general mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 185 general mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general mechanical engineering program make about $93,617 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,777.
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Santa Clara University landed the #22 spot for general mechanical engineering this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Santa Clara. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Santa Clara University awarded about 16 general mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $124,058 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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California Institute Of Technology landed the #23 spot for general mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 general mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at California Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of California Institute Of Technology earn a median of $173,344 early in their careers.
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Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #24 spot for general mechanical engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 42 general mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their general mechanical engineering degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $98,135 in the first couple years of their career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #25 position for general mechanical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 37 general mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $92,510. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
See the full general mechanical engineering program report for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Rest of the Top 50 General Mechanical Engineering Schools
These schools also placed among the best for general mechanical engineering this year:
Honorable Mentions
A few more general mechanical engineering schools worth a look:
Other General Mechanical Engineering Degree Levels
Explore the best general mechanical engineering schools at other degree levels:
View All General Mechanical Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 169 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.