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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 37 schools on the early-career earnings of their me mechanical engineering graduates.
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 Rice University, our #1 for me mechanical engineering graduate salaries in the Southwest Region. Rice University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $105,734.
A rank of #2 makes Southern Methodist University one of the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist 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 $95,148.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $104,021.
Students chasing top earnings in me mechanical engineering will find them at Texas A And M University College Station, which ranked #4. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Texas A And M University College Station make a median of around $101,116 per year.
University Of Arizona came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. University Of Arizona is a public school located in the city of Tucson. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of about $95,672 a year early in their careers.
Arizona State University Skysong came in at #6 for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a public institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from Arizona State University Skysong typically earn about $94,295 annually.
Lamar University landed the #7 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a public institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Lamar University make a median of around $104,395 per year.
West Texas A And M University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a public institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from West Texas A And M University make a median of around $89,635 per year.
University Of Houston placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a public institution. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $96,269.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott came in at #10 for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Prescott, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $93,818.
Texas Tech University landed the #11 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Texas Tech University make a median of around $93,452 per year.
Baylor University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor 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 $88,325.
Arizona State University landed the #13 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. Arizona State University is a public school located in the city of Tempe. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from Arizona State University typically earn about $100,341 annually.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #14 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from University Of New Mexico Main Campus make a median of around $102,379 per year.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of about $91,580 a year early in their careers.
Prairie View A And M University came in at #16 for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Prairie View, Prairie View A And M University is a public institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from Prairie View A And M University make a median of around $96,773 per year.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a public school located in the town of Stillwater. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $91,640.
University Of Tulsa came in at #18 for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Tulsa, University Of Tulsa is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Tulsa typically earn about $90,509 annually.
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for me mechanical engineering. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a public school located in the city of Odessa. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $96,881.
University Of Central Oklahoma came in at #20 for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a public institution. Early-career me mechanical engineering graduates from University Of Central Oklahoma make a median of around $86,068 per year.
New Mexico State University Main Campus came in at #21 for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a public institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of about $98,083 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Texas At Arlington landed the #22 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a public school located in the city of Arlington. Students who complete the me mechanical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $92,861.
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi came in at #23 for me mechanical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Texas A And M University Corpus Christi is a public institution. Me Mechanical Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University Corpus Christi earn a median of about $90,045 a year early in their careers.
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology landed the #24 spot for me mechanical engineering salaries this year. New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology is a public school located in the town of Socorro. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology typically earn about $100,852 annually.
The University Of Texas At El Paso ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying me mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a public institution. After graduating, me mechanical engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At El Paso typically earn about $92,487 annually.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid me mechanical engineering ranking:
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 · 37 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.