by our College Data Analytics Team
[Me Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their me mechanical engineering graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find where me mechanical engineering graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose me mechanical engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
Duke University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid me mechanical engineering graduates in North Carolina. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Duke University make a median of around $125,085 per year.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh produces some of the highest-paid graduates in me mechanical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh typically earn about $95,947 annually.
North Carolina A And T State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in me mechanical engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a public institution. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $87,420.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte produces some of the highest-paid graduates in me mechanical engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public institution. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $85,296.
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 · 4 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.