by our College Data Analytics Team
[Me Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their me mechanical engineering graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 schools to find where me mechanical engineering graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send me mechanical engineering graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Stanford University the top school for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings in the United States. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $140,707.
Johns Hopkins University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in me mechanical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $118,204.
A rank of #3 makes San Jose State University one of the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. San Jose State University is a public school located in the city of San Jose. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from San Jose State University make a median of around $112,360 per year.
Duke University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in me mechanical engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of Duke University earn a median of about $125,085 a year early in their careers.
California Maritime Academy came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Vallejo, California Maritime Academy is a public institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of California Maritime Academy earn a median of about $114,735 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Berkeley ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. University Of California Berkeley is a public school located in the city of Berkeley. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley typically earn about $112,325 annually.
Cornell University earned the #7 position for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $113,983.
Santa Clara University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of about $118,350 a year early in their careers.
Olin College earned the #9 position for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Needham, Olin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of Olin College earn a median of about $106,657 a year early in their careers.
Villanova University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Villanova University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $113,966.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #11 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo make a median of around $110,675 per year.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology landed the #12 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology make a median of around $106,765 per year.
University Of Southern California came in at #13 for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of about $107,591 a year early in their careers.
Suny Maritime College came in at #14 for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Throggs Neck, Suny Maritime College is a public institution. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $114,377.
Carnegie Mellon University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Carnegie Mellon University make a median of around $115,666 per year.
Rice University came in at #16 for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Rice University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from Rice University typically earn about $105,734 annually.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #17 for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from University Of California Los Angeles make a median of around $108,947 per year.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #18 for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from The University Of Texas At Austin make a median of around $104,021 per year.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $101,514.
Northeastern University placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from Northeastern University typically earn about $104,723 annually.
University Of Notre Dame ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame typically earn about $95,893 annually.
University Of California Santa Barbara placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara typically earn about $100,669 annually.
Kettering University landed the #23 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. Kettering University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Flint. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Kettering University make a median of around $102,774 per year.
University Of The Pacific placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Set in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $105,548.
Michigan State University came in at #25 for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Michigan State University make a median of around $99,381 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid me mechanical engineering ranking:
A few more high-earning me mechanical engineering schools worth a look:
| Rank | College | Location | Avg Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #51 | University Of California Davis | Davis, CA | $99,885 | Full Report |
| #52 | California State University Chico | Chico, CA | $102,703 | Full Report |
| #53 | Columbia University In The City Of New York | New York, NY | $103,801 | Full Report |
| #54 | Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology | Terre Haute, IN | $93,120 | Full Report |
| #55 | Lawrence Technological University | Southfield, MI | $94,853 | Full Report |
| #56 | Drexel University | Philadelphia, PA | $99,010 | Full Report |
| #57 | Wayne State University | Detroit, MI | $98,434 | Full Report |
| #58 | University Of Wisconsin Madison | Madison, WI | $97,845 | Full Report |
| #59 | Boston University | Boston, MA | $94,926 | Full Report |
| #60 | Washington University In St Louis | St. Louis, MO | $101,263 | Full Report |
| #61 | Mississippi State University | Mississippi State, MS | $96,021 | Full Report |
| #62 | University Of Florida | Gainesville, FL | $94,291 | Full Report |
| #63 | San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA | $99,619 | Full Report |
Explore the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools at other degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries me mechanical 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 · 100 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.
