College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in the Southeast Region

75 Ranked Colleges
8,016 Degrees Awarded
$63,385 Avg Salary
Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor's

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s” 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.

Across the Southeast region, there were 9,524 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $65,486 and $24,571 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 8,016 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,400 and $27,180 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s” ranking looked at 75 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. To top this list, a school must have a successful mechanical engineering program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Mechanical Engineering Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More ME Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s”.

1

Out of the 75 schools in the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this large public school handed out 510 degrees to qualified bachelors’s ME students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Central Florida. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s. This large school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 445 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 full report on Mechanical Engineering at UCF

3
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Virginia Tech. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s. Virginia Tech is a public institution located in Blacksburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 376 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%.

Full Virginia Tech Mechanical Engineering Report

4
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s list. UF is located in Gainesville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 373 bachelors’s ME degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Florida Mechanical Engineering Report

5
UA crest
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Alabama. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s list. The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 343 bachelors’s ME degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 The University of Alabama

6
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina

Clemson University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s ranking. Clemson University is a large school located in Clemson, South Carolina that handed out 288 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 Clemson

7
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University ranked #7 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s list. NC State is a public institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 285 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, 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 94%.

Full NC State Mechanical Engineering Report

8
Auburn crest
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama

Auburn University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s ranking. Auburn University is located in Auburn, Alabama and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 252 bachelors’s ME degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Auburn University

9
KSU Georgia crest
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, Georgia

With a ranking of #9, Kennesaw State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s list. Kennesaw, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s ME degrees to 227 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 Kennesaw State University Mechanical Engineering Report

10

With a ranking of #10, University of North Carolina at Charlotte did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s list. Charlotte, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s ME degrees to 213 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 UNC Charlotte

11

University of South Carolina - Columbia ranked #11 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s list. This large school is located in Columbia, South Carolina, and it awarded 207 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UofSC Mechanical Engineering Report

12
GaSou crest
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, Georgia

Georgia Southern University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #12. Statesboro, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s ME degrees to 197 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Southern University

13

University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Tampa, Florida, this large public school handed out 196 degrees to qualified bachelors’s ME students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, 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 92%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at USF Tampa

14
Mississippi State crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

Mississippi State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s ranking. Mississippi State is a large school located in Mississippi State, Mississippi that handed out 192 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Mississippi State

15
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s ranking. University of Georgia is located in Athens, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 172 bachelors’s ME degrees to qualified students.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UGA

16
UK crest
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

With a ranking of #16, University of Kentucky did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s list. This large school is located in Lexington, Kentucky, and it awarded 169 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Kentucky Mechanical Engineering Report

17

Florida International University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s ranking. FIU is a large public school situated in Miami, Florida. It awarded 163 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 Florida International University Mechanical Engineering Report

18
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #18. West Virginia University is a public institution located in Morgantown, West Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 156 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at West Virginia University

19

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s list. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a public institution located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 155 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UT Knoxville

20

Tennessee Technological University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #20. This medium-sized school is located in Cookeville, Tennessee, and it awarded 154 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Tennessee Tech University

21
Old Dominion crest
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

Old Dominion University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Norfolk, Virginia, this large public school handed out 150 degrees to qualified bachelors’s ME students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Old Dominion University

22

University of Alabama in Huntsville did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #22. Huntsville, Alabama is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s ME degrees to 142 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UAH

23
UARK crest
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas

University of Arkansas ranked #23 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s list. UARK is located in Fayetteville, Arkansas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 138 bachelors’s ME degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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%. 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 University of Arkansas

24

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, this large public school awarded 121 degrees to qualified bachelors’s ME students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, 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 Louisiana State University

25

University of Louisiana at Lafayette did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #25. UL Lafayette is located in Lafayette, Louisiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 120 bachelors’s ME degrees to qualified students.

Full University of Louisiana at Lafayette Mechanical Engineering Report

Switch to a Similar Major

General Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Engineering in the Southeast Region

Agricultural Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Agricultural Engineering in the Southeast Region

Biomedical Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Biomedical Engineering in the Southeast Region

Chemical Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Chemical Engineering in the Southeast Region

Computer Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Computer Engineering in the Southeast Region

Engineering Mechanics
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Engineering Mechanics in the Southeast Region

Engineering Science
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Engineering Science in the Southeast Region

Materials Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Materials Engineering in the Southeast Region

Mining Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Mining Engineering in the Southeast Region

Nuclear Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Nuclear Engineering in the Southeast Region

Petroleum Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Petroleum Engineering in the Southeast Region

Textile Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Textile Engineering in the Southeast Region

Construction Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Construction Engineering in the Southeast Region

Manufacturing Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Manufacturing Engineering in the Southeast Region

Surveying Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Surveying Engineering in the Southeast Region

Robotics Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Robotics Engineering in the Southeast Region

Engineering Chemistry
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Engineering Chemistry in the Southeast Region

Other Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Other Engineering in the Southeast Region

Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering in the Southeast Region

Architectural Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Architectural Engineering in the Southeast Region

Ceramic Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Ceramic Engineering in the Southeast Region

Civil Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Civil Engineering in the Southeast Region

Electrical Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Electrical Engineering in the Southeast Region

Engineering Physics
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Engineering Physics in the Southeast Region

Environmental Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Environmental Engineering in the Southeast Region

Metallurgical Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Metallurgical Engineering in the Southeast Region

Marine Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Marine Engineering in the Southeast Region

Ocean Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Ocean Engineering in the Southeast Region

Systems Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Systems Engineering in the Southeast Region

Polymer & Plastics Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Polymer & Plastics Engineering in the Southeast Region

Industrial Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Industrial Engineering in the Southeast Region

Operations Research
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Operations Research in the Southeast Region

Geoscience Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Geoscience Engineering in the Southeast Region

Biochemical Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Biochemical Engineering in the Southeast Region

Biological Engineering
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Biological Engineering in the Southeast Region

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options