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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools.
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.
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, our #1 for me mechanical engineering graduate salaries in Illinois. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public school located in the city of Champaign. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $96,770 a year early in their careers.
Northwestern University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in me mechanical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Northwestern University make a median of around $104,154 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in me mechanical engineering will find them at Bradley University, which ranked #3. Bradley University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Bradley University make a median of around $90,408 per year.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago typically earn about $88,275 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned it the #5 place for me mechanical engineering. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Southern Illinois University Carbondale make a median of around $88,465 per year.
Northern Illinois University earned the #6 position for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Northern Illinois University is a public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Northern Illinois University make a median of around $86,692 per year.
Illinois Institute Of Technology placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Illinois Institute Of Technology make a median of around $88,837 per year.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #8 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public institution. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $86,329.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their me mechanical engineering graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 8 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.