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.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 9 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.
Leading the list is University Of Notre Dame, our #1 for me mechanical engineering graduate salaries in Indiana. University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from University Of Notre Dame make a median of around $95,893 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in me mechanical engineering will find them at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #2. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $106,443 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in me mechanical engineering will find them at Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology typically earn about $93,120 annually.
Purdue University Northwest produces some of the highest-paid graduates in me mechanical engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a public institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of Purdue University Northwest earn a median of about $89,239 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in me mechanical engineering will find them at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis typically earn about $87,604 annually.
Trine University landed the #6 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. Trine University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Angola. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of Trine University earn a median of about $87,580 a year early in their careers.
Valparaiso University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Set in the suburb of Valparaiso, Valparaiso 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 $83,142.
University Of Evansville placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Set in the city of Evansville, University Of Evansville is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $66,553.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne landed the #9 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne make a median of around $64,534 per year.
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 · 9 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.