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2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering

385 Ranked Colleges
36,809 Degrees Awarded
$64,776 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on ME Major

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Mechanical Engineering is the 21st most popular major in the country with 46,178 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, mechanical engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $69,007 and had an average of $23,944 in loans still to pay off.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 36,809 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,682 and $26,217 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major” ranking, we looked at 385 colleges that offer a degree in mechanical engineering. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their mechanical engineering program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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The me school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree me students.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering

1
Kettering crest
Kettering University
Flint, Michigan

Out of the 385 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Kettering University landed the #1 spot on the list. Kettering is a private not-for-profit institution located in Flint, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 235 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Kettering University

2
Olin College crest
Olin College
Needham, Massachusetts

Out of the 385 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Olin College landed the #2 spot on the list. Olin College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Needham, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Olin College Mechanical Engineering Report

3

Out of the 385 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Rose - Hulman Institute of Technology landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Terre Haute, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 134 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s ME students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Rose - Hulman Institute of Technology Mechanical Engineering Report

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Florida Polytechnic University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major. Florida Poly is a small school located in Lakeland, Florida that handed out 66 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Florida Polytechnic University

5
Mines crest
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, Colorado

Out of the 385 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Colorado School of Mines landed the #5 spot on the list. Golden, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s ME degrees to 299 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Colorado School of Mines

6
MSOE crest
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee School of Engineering ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major list. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s ME degrees to 112 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at MSOE

7

Michigan Technological University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major ranking, coming in at #7. Houghton, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s ME degrees to 263 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Technological University

8

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major ranking. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology is a small school located in Socorro, New Mexico that handed out 47 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full New Mexico Tech Mechanical Engineering Report

9
Clarkson crest
Clarkson University
Potsdam, New York

Clarkson University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major ranking. This small school is located in Potsdam, New York, and it awarded 160 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full Clarkson Mechanical Engineering Report

10

With a ranking of #10, Wright State University - Lake Campus did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major list. Wright State University - Lake Campus is located in Celina, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 bachelors’s ME degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Wright State University - Lake Campus

11

With a ranking of #11, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major list. This small school is located in Rapid City, South Dakota, and it awarded 64 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at SD Mines

12
WIT crest
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Boston, Massachusetts

Wentworth Institute of Technology came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major ranking. Wentworth Institute of Technology is a small school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 127 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Wentworth Institute of Technology

13

With a ranking of #13, California State University Maritime Academy did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major list. California State University Maritime Academy is a small school located in Vallejo, California that handed out 19 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University Maritime Academy Mechanical Engineering Report

14

Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major ranking, coming in at #14. Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hato Rey, . The school has a small population, and it awarded 73 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico

15
WPI crest
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, Massachusetts

Worcester Polytechnic Institute ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major list. WPI is located in Worcester, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 229 bachelors’s ME degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full WPI Mechanical Engineering Report

16

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranked #16 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major list. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Troy, New York. It awarded 239 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

17

With a ranking of #17, University of Wisconsin - Platteville did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major list. University of Wisconsin - Platteville is a medium-sized school located in Platteville, Wisconsin that handed out 198 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UW - Platteville

18

Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major ranking, coming in at #18. Located in New York, New York, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 23 degrees to qualified bachelors’s ME students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full Cooper Union Mechanical Engineering Report

19

With a ranking of #19, Lawrence Technological University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major list. Lawrence Tech is a private not-for-profit institution located in Southfield, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 68 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Lawrence Technological University

20

Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico - Orlando did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major ranking, coming in at #20. Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico - Orlando is a small school located in Orlando, Florida that handed out 3 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico - Orlando

21
VMI crest
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, Virginia

With a ranking of #21, Virginia Military Institute did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major list. Located in Lexington, Virginia, this small public school handed out 41 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s ME students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full VMI Mechanical Engineering Report

22

With a ranking of #22, Missouri University of Science and Technology did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major list. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a public institution located in Rolla, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 233 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology

23

With a ranking of #23, University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major list. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez is a fairly large school located in Mayaguez, that handed out 185 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

24

Montana Technological University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major ranking. This small school is located in Butte, Montana, and it awarded 33 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Montana Tech

25
Pitt Johnstown crest
University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown
Johnstown, Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major ranking. Pitt Johnstown is located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 46 bachelors’s ME degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Pitt Johnstown

Rest of the Best 50 in Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
OIT crest
Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, Oregon
28
Lafayette crest
Lafayette College
Easton, Pennsylvania
29
30
Grove City College crest
Grove City College
Grove City, Pennsylvania
31
West Point crest
United States Military Academy
West Point, New York
32
LETU crest
LeTourneau University
Longview, Texas
33
34
35
USCGA crest
United States Coast Guard Academy
New London, Connecticut
36
Union College crest
Union College New York
Schenectady, New York
37
38
SUNY Maritime College crest
SUNY Maritime College
Throggs Neck, New York
39
Manhattan crest
Manhattan College
Riverdale, New York
40
Alfred crest
Alfred University
Alfred, New York
41
42
Saint Martin's crest
Saint Martin's University
Lacey, Washington
43
University of Portland crest
University of Portland
Portland, Oregon
44
45
46
Annapolis crest
United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, Maryland
47
Trine crest
Trine University
Angola, Indiana
48
Tuskegee crest
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee, Alabama
49
50
YCP crest
York College of Pennsylvania
York, Pennsylvania

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on ME Major

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 Walla Walla University College Place, WA
52 Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology Flushing, NY
53 Cedarville University Cedarville, OH
54 Iowa State University Ames, IA
55 University of Dayton Dayton, OH
56 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach Daytona Beach, FL
57 Dordt University Sioux Center, IA
58 University of Tulsa Tulsa, OK

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Notes and References

References

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