by our College Data Analytics Team
[Me Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 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.
Our analysis ranked Stanford University the top school for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings in California. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from Stanford University typically earn about $140,707 annually.
A rank of #2 makes San Jose State University one of the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of San Jose State University earn a median of about $112,360 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at California Maritime Academy earned it the #3 place for me mechanical engineering. Set in the city of Vallejo, California Maritime Academy is a public institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from California Maritime Academy typically earn about $114,735 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of California Berkeley earned it the #4 place for me mechanical engineering. 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.
Strong graduate earnings at Santa Clara University earned it the #5 place for me mechanical engineering. Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Santa Clara University make a median of around $118,350 per year.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #6 for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $110,675 a year early in their careers.
University Of Southern California placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. 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 ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. 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.
University Of California Santa Barbara placed #9 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. 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 placed #10 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.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #11 position for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set 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 placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from University Of San Diego make a median of around $97,127 per year.
University Of California Davis ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. University Of California Davis is a public school located in the suburb of Davis. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Davis typically earn about $99,885 annually.
California State University Chico earned the #14 position for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a public institution. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $102,703.
San Francisco State University came in at #15 for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of about $99,619 a year early in their careers.
California State University Northridge landed the #16 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a public institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of about $100,421 a year early in their careers.
San Diego State University earned the #17 position for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a public institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of about $99,279 a year early in their careers.
University Of California San Diego came in at #18 for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from University Of California San Diego make a median of around $99,554 per year.
California Baptist University came in at #19 for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $92,844.
University Of California Irvine ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. University Of California Irvine is a public school located in the city of Irvine. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $95,534.
California State University Fresno landed the #21 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a public institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from California State University Fresno typically earn about $97,316 annually.
California State University Sacramento ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. California State University Sacramento is a public school located in the city of Sacramento. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from California State University Sacramento make a median of around $91,357 per year.
California State University Fullerton ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a public institution. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $93,073.
California State University Long Beach ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $97,895.
University Of California Riverside earned the #25 position for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a public institution. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $93,294.
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 · 28 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.
