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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k)

222 Ranked Colleges
7,458 Degrees Awarded
$43,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value ME Schools for a Master's For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Mechanical Engineering is the 20th most popular major in the country with 47,598 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, mechanical engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $64,495 and had an average of $23,104 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 7,458 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 222 colleges that offered a degree in mechanical engineering. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality mechanical engineering programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the mechanical engineering program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree me students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k)

#1

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Out of the 222 schools in the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Massachusetts Institute of Technology landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 130 degrees to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MIT, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Massachusetts Institute of Technology are $56,719, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Massachusetts Institute of Technology Mechanical Engineering Report

#2

Stanford University

Stanford, California

Out of the 222 schools in the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #2 spot on the list. Stanford is located in Stanford, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 163 masters’s ME degrees to qualified students.

Stanford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Stanford

#3

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 222 schools in the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Duke University landed the #3 spot on the list. Duke University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Durham, North Carolina. It awarded 40 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree me students whose families make $30-$48k list, Duke has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Duke University are $59,140, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Duke Mechanical Engineering Report

#4

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 222 schools in the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 40 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University

#5

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Princeton University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k. Princeton is a private not-for-profit institution located in Princeton, New Jersey. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree me students whose families make $30-$48k list, Princeton has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Princeton are $56,470, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Princeton University

#6

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 53 diplomas to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

UPenn not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UPenn are $41,760, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of Pennsylvania

#7

Rice University

Houston, Texas
#25 in overall quality

Rice University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Rice is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 17 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Rice did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rice are $47,913, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Rice

#8

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

Washington University in St Louis came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. WUSTL is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 53 masters’s ME degrees to qualified students.

WUSTL also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at WUSTL are $56,562, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Washington University in St Louis

#9

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland

Johns Hopkins University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Johns Hopkins University is a large school located in Baltimore, Maryland that handed out 98 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Johns Hopkins also took the #3 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins University are $59,425, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Johns Hopkins

#10

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York

With a ranking of #10, Cornell University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 70 masters’s ME degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cornell, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell are $30,042, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Cornell

Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Columbia is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 146 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia also took the #5 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $51,194.

Full Columbia University in the City of New York Mechanical Engineering Report

#12

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan

With a ranking of #12, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 150 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M also took the #9 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#13

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
Top 15% in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Vanderbilt University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Vanderbilt University is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s ME degrees to qualified students.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Vanderbilt also did well on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at Vanderbilt are $50,624, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Vanderbilt University

#14

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 102 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, UF is in the top on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Florida are $30,130, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UF

University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 57 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523.

Full UW - Madison Mechanical Engineering Report

#16

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Purdue is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 121 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Purdue

#17

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts
#22 in overall quality

Tufts University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Tufts is a fairly large school located in Medford, Massachusetts that handed out 21 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Tufts also took the #22 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Tufts University are $55,168, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Tufts

#18

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #18, Northeastern University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northeastern is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 123 masters’s ME degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our master’s degree me students whose families make $30-$48k list, Northeastern has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern are $25,558, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Northeastern University

University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #19. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large public school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 111 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UW Seattle also did well on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Washington - Seattle Campus Mechanical Engineering Report

#20

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#23 in overall quality

University of Notre Dame ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

Notre Dame not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Notre Dame are $57,522, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Notre Dame Mechanical Engineering Report

#21

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California

University of California - Berkeley ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school handed out 148 diplomas to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree me students whose families make $30-$48k list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of California - Berkeley

With a ranking of #22, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 70 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UIUC is also in the top of our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Mechanical Engineering Report

#23

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

University of California - Los Angeles ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 99 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of California - Los Angeles

Michigan Technological University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Houghton, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 121 degrees to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

Michigan Tech excels when it comes to ME quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan Technological University are $21,996.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Tech

#25

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
#16 in overall quality

California Institute of Technology came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Caltech is a small school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 11 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree me students whose families make $30-$48k list, Caltech has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of Technology are $56,649, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Caltech

Rest of the Best 34 in Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k

Not only did these schools make the top 34 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#29

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#30

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida
#31

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
#34

The City College of New York

New York, New York

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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