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 8 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.
Leading the list is Vanderbilt University, our #1 for me mechanical engineering graduate salaries in Tennessee. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from Vanderbilt University typically earn about $101,152 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in me mechanical engineering will find them at University Of Memphis, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a public institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of about $86,402 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Tennessee came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Set 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 $90,860 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Tennessee Technological University earned it the #4 place for me mechanical engineering. Located in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a public institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from Tennessee Technological University typically earn about $88,130 annually.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a public institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga typically earn about $84,859 annually.
Christian Brothers University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Memphis, Christian Brothers University is a private not-for-profit institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of Christian Brothers University earn a median of about $71,112 a year early in their careers.
Lipscomb University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from Lipscomb University typically earn about $67,725 annually.
Tennessee State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a public institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of Tennessee State University earn a median of about $58,828 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled 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 · 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.