2021 Highest Paid Mechanical Engineering Graduates
Finding the Best Mechanical Engineering School for You
In 2018-2019, 37,343 people earned their bachelor's in mechanical engineering, making the major the #15 most popular in the United States.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Highest Paid ME Graduates ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
For this year's Highest Paid Mechanical Engineering Graduates ranking, we looked at 278 colleges that offer a bachelor's in ME.
The numbers used in this ranking are early career salaries, which we define to be 10 years after a student started college. This is the salary typically earned 4-6 years after graduation, but may be different depending on how long a person takes to complete their degree.
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How Much Do Mechanical Engineering Majors Make After Graduation?
After graduation, mechanical engineering majors from schools in the United States earn an average salary of $61,915 per year. This is 56% higher than the average college graduate, who only makes around $39,802 a year.
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2021 Highest Paid Mechanical Engineering Grads in United States
The highest paid ME majors graduate from the following colleges and universities.
Top 25 Best Schools for Highly Paid ME Graduates
The #1 spot in this year's ranking belongs to SUNY Maritime College. Located in the large city of Throggs Neck, SUNY Maritime is a public college with a small student population. ME majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $82,800.
While working on their bachelor's, ME majors at SUNY Maritime accumulate an average of around $24,515 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $274.
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Our rankings recognize Stanford University as the #2 school in this year's rankings. Stanford is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Stanford. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in ME from the school is $78,200.
On average, ME graduates from Stanford take out $17,594 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $202.
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The #3 spot in this year's ranking belongs to United States Naval Academy. Located in the large suburb of Annapolis, Annapolis is a public school with a small student population.
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The #3 spot in this year's ranking belongs to California State University Maritime Academy. Cal Maritime is a small public school located in the city of Vallejo. Students who receive their bachelor's in ME from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $77,600.
After completing their bachelor's degree, ME graduates from Cal Maritime carry an average student debtload of $25,322. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $272.
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The #4 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Princeton University. Princeton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Princeton.
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The #4 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Kettering University. Kettering is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Flint. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, ME majors make an average salary of $76,900.
ME majors at Kettering take out an average of $26,545 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $291.
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Our rankings recognize University of Michigan - Dearborn as the #5 school in this year's rankings. Located in the small city of Dearborn, UM Dearborn is a public college with a medium-sized student population. Students who receive their bachelor's in ME from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $76,800.
The average amount in student loans that ME majors at UM Dearborn take out while working on their bachelor's is $23,838. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $259, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The #5 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Yale University. Located in the midsize city of New Haven, Yale is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology landed the #6 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid mechanical engineering school. MIT is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Cambridge. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, ME majors make an average salary of $75,100.
After completing their bachelor's degree, ME graduates from MIT carry an average student debtload of $14,824. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $144.
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The #7 spot in this year's ranking belongs to University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. U of Michigan is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, ME majors make an average salary of $74,200.
While working on their bachelor's, ME majors at U of Michigan accumulate an average of around $17,034 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $182, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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United States Military Academy landed the #7 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid mechanical engineering school. Located in the town of West Point, West Point is a public college with a small student population.
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Our rankings recognize Duke University as the #8 school in this year's rankings. Located in the city of Durham, Duke is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population. Students who receive their bachelor's in ME from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $73,500.
After completing their bachelor's degree, ME graduates from Duke carry an average student debtload of $11,402. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $105.
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The #9 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Oakland University. Located in the large suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland is a public college with a large student population. Students who receive their bachelor's in ME from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $73,500.
After completing their bachelor's degree, ME graduates from Oakland carry an average student debtload of $25,592. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $280, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art landed the #9 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid mechanical engineering school. Cooper Union is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York.
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Lawrence Technological University landed the #10 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid mechanical engineering school. Lawrence Tech is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Southfield. ME majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $73,200.
After completing their bachelor's degree, ME graduates from Lawrence Tech carry an average student debtload of $31,035. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $319, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The #11 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Wayne State University. Wayne State is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Detroit. Students who receive their bachelor's in ME from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $73,000.
On average, ME graduates from Wayne State take out $23,805 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $245.
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Our rankings recognize Cornell University as the #12 school in this year's rankings. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in ME from the school is $72,700.
ME majors at Cornell take out an average of $13,428 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $141.
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United States Air Force Academy comes in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in the fringe town of USAF Academy, USAFA is a public college with a small student population.
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The #13 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Michigan State University. Michigan State is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. ME majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $72,600.
On average, ME graduates from Michigan State take out $22,987 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $275, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Olin College comes in at #14 in this year's ranking. Olin College is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Needham. ME majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $72,200.
The average amount in student loans that ME majors at Olin College take out while working on their bachelor's is $16,024.
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The #15 spot in this year's ranking belongs to University of California - Berkeley. Located in the midsize city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public school with a fairly large student population. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, ME majors make an average salary of $71,900.
ME majors at UC Berkeley take out an average of $15,292 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $156, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo earned the #16 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a public college with a very large student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in ME from the school is $71,600.
The average amount in student loans that ME majors at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo take out while working on their bachelor's is $20,266. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $213.
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Our rankings recognize Saginaw Valley State University as the #17 school in this year's rankings. Located in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a public school with a moderately-sized student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in ME from the school is $71,600.
On average, ME graduates from Saginaw Valley State University take out $23,650 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $261, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Texas A&M University - College Station comes in at #18 in this year's ranking. Texas A&M is a very large public school located in the midsize city of College Station. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in ME from the school is $71,600.
The average amount in student loans that ME majors at Texas A&M take out while working on their bachelor's is $18,404. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $197.
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Central Michigan University earned the #19 spot in our 2021 rankings. Central Michigan is a large public school located in the distant town of Mount Pleasant. Students who receive their bachelor's in ME from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $71,400.
On average, ME graduates from Central Michigan take out $28,080 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $291.
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Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Highest Paid Mechanical Engineering Graduates award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | University of Toledo | Toledo, OH |
| 43 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX |
| 44 | Trine University | Angola, IN |
| 45 | Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester, NY |
| 46 | Villanova University | Villanova, PA |
| 47 | University of Dayton | Dayton, OH |
| 48 | University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign | Champaign, IL |
| 49 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus | Cincinnati, OH |
| 50 | Boston University | Boston, MA |
| 51 | University of Connecticut | Storrs, CT |
| 52 | Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN |
| 53 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Troy, NY |
| 54 | Ohio Northern University | Ada, OH |
| 55 | Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, MI |
Mechanical Engineering by Region
View the Highest Paid Mechanical Engineering Graduates for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| The Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
Rankings in Majors Related to ME
Mechanical Engineering is one of 38 different types of Engineering programs to choose from.
Most Popular Majors Related to ME
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Electrical Engineering | 17,946 |
| Civil Engineering | 14,832 |
| Chemical Engineering | 11,423 |
| Computer Engineering | 10,704 |
| Biomedical Engineering | 7,921 |
Notes and 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Michel Villeneuve.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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