by our College Data Analytics Team
[Me Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a me mechanical engineering degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 46 schools on the early-career earnings of their me mechanical engineering graduates.
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.
Stanford University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools in the Far Western Region. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Stanford University make a median of around $140,707 per year.
San Jose State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in me mechanical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. 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.
California Maritime Academy produces some of the highest-paid graduates in me mechanical engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. California Maritime Academy is a public school located in the city of Vallejo. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from California Maritime Academy typically earn about $114,735 annually.
University Of California Berkeley produces some of the highest-paid graduates in me mechanical engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from University Of California Berkeley make a median of around $112,325 per year.
A rank of #5 makes Santa Clara University one of the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $118,350.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo make a median of around $110,675 per year.
University Of Southern California placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from University Of Southern California make a median of around $107,591 per year.
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #8 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $108,947.
University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from University Of California Santa Barbara make a median of around $100,669 per year.
University Of The Pacific ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of The Pacific typically earn about $105,548 annually.
Oregon Institute Of Technology ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Located in the town of Klamath Falls, Oregon Institute Of Technology is a public institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from Oregon Institute Of Technology typically earn about $102,683 annually.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona typically earn about $101,659 annually.
University Of San Diego ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. University Of San Diego is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $97,127.
University Of Alaska Fairbanks placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Fairbanks, University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a public institution. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $94,625.
University Of California Davis ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a public institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of about $99,885 a year early in their careers.
California State University Chico ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. California State University Chico is a public school located in the city of Chico. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from California State University Chico make a median of around $102,703 per year.
San Francisco State University landed the #17 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. San Francisco State University is a public school located in the city of San Francisco. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from San Francisco State University typically earn about $99,619 annually.
California State University Northridge earned the #18 position for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. California State University Northridge is a public school located in the city of Northridge. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from California State University Northridge make a median of around $100,421 per year.
University Of Portland placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. University Of Portland is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Portland. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from University Of Portland make a median of around $91,884 per year.
San Diego State University landed the #20 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a public institution. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $99,279.
University Of California San Diego ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. University Of California San Diego is a public school located in the city of La Jolla. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of about $99,554 a year early in their careers.
Seattle University came in at #22 for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Seattle University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $101,374.
University Of Alaska Anchorage ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Anchorage, University Of Alaska Anchorage is a public institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Alaska Anchorage earn a median of about $94,609 a year early in their careers.
Washington State University earned the #24 position for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a public institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Washington State University make a median of around $92,146 per year.
California Baptist University placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from California Baptist University make a median of around $92,844 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid me mechanical engineering ranking:
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 · 46 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.
