by our College Data Analytics Team
[Me Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 91 schools on the early-career earnings of their me mechanical engineering graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose me mechanical engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, our #1 for me mechanical engineering graduate salaries in the United States. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology typically earn about $159,366 annually.
University Of California Irvine came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a public institution. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $142,294.
Strong graduate earnings at Stanford University earned it the #3 place for me mechanical engineering. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of Stanford University earn a median of about $161,655 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Berkeley came in at #4 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. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of about $135,617 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in me mechanical engineering will find them at Santa Clara University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Santa Clara University make a median of around $144,633 per year.
California State University Northridge ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. California State University Northridge is a public school located in the city of Northridge. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of about $122,320 a year early in their careers.
Johns Hopkins University landed the #7 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Johns Hopkins University make a median of around $127,691 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. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from University Of California Los Angeles make a median of around $133,046 per year.
The University Of Tennessee placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of about $116,277 a year early in their careers.
University Of Southern California landed the #10 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries 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 $128,483 a year early in their careers.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #11 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $128,517 a year early in their careers.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Purdue University Main Campus make a median of around $127,247 per year.
University Of California San Diego placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Set 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 $112,996 per year.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of about $111,653 a year early in their careers.
Oakland University landed the #15 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a public institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of Oakland University earn a median of about $118,643 a year early in their careers.
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Columbia University In The City Of New York make a median of around $117,275 per year.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute landed the #17 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from Worcester Polytechnic Institute typically earn about $111,218 annually.
California State University Los Angeles ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a public institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles typically earn about $108,577 annually.
Cornell University earned the #19 position for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from Cornell University typically earn about $119,321 annually.
Lehigh University earned the #20 position for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of about $118,309 a year early in their careers.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #21 position for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Atlanta. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $116,793.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $111,526.
University Of Michigan Dearborn placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a public school located in the city of Dearborn. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $105,227.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #24 for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Columbus. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Ohio State University Main Campus make a median of around $113,806 per year.
Drexel University placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from Drexel University typically earn about $119,110 annually.
These schools also send me mechanical engineering graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Me Mechanical Engineering rankings across 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 · 91 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.
