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2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region

78 Ranked Colleges
9,524 Degrees Awarded
$31,100 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region

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” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 46,178 people earned their degree in mechanical engineering, making the major the 21st most popular in the United States. 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.

This year’s “Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region” ranking looked at 78 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.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region

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

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region. This large school is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and it awarded 794 ’s ME degrees 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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus Mechanical Engineering Report

2
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region. UF is located in Gainesville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 597 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of Florida

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Central Florida. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region list. This large school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 503 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%. 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 Central Florida

4
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 #4 for the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region. Virginia Tech is a large public school situated in Blacksburg, Virginia. It awarded 466 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, 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 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Virginia Tech Mechanical Engineering Report

5
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

Out of the 78 schools in the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, North Carolina State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME degrees to 402 students 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at NC State

6
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina

Clemson University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region list. Clemson is a public institution located in Clemson, South Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 385 ’s 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 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%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Clemson

7
UA crest
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The University of Alabama ranked #7 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region list. Located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, this large public school handed out 378 degrees to qualified ’s ME students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full The University of Alabama Mechanical Engineering Report

8
Auburn crest
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama

With a ranking of #8, Auburn University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region list. Auburn is a large school located in Auburn, Alabama that handed out 285 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national 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 full report on Mechanical Engineering at Auburn University

9

University of North Carolina at Charlotte ranked #9 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region list. University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public institution located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 249 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, 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 85%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UNC Charlotte

10

University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #10. USF Tampa is a large public school situated in Tampa, Florida. It awarded 243 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full USF Tampa Mechanical Engineering Report

11
KSU Georgia crest
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, Georgia

With a ranking of #11, Kennesaw State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region list. This large school is located in Kennesaw, Georgia, and it awarded 237 ’s ME degrees 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%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at KSU Georgia

12

University of South Carolina - Columbia landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region ranking. This large school is located in Columbia, South Carolina, and it awarded 235 ’s ME degrees 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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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%.

Full UofSC Mechanical Engineering Report

13
Mississippi State crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

Mississippi State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Mississippi State, Mississippi, this large public school handed out 216 degrees to qualified ’s ME students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Mississippi State University Mechanical Engineering Report

14
GaSou crest
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, Georgia

Georgia Southern University ranked #14 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region list. Georgia Southern University is located in Statesboro, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 200 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at GaSou

15

With a ranking of #15, The University of Tennessee - Knoxville did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region list. Knoxville, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME degrees to 190 students in 2020-2021.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

16
UK crest
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

University of Kentucky did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #16. University of Kentucky is a large school located in Lexington, Kentucky that handed out 188 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, 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 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UK Mechanical Engineering Report

17

Florida International University ranked #17 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region list. Florida International University is a public institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 174 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Florida International University Mechanical Engineering Report

18
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

With a ranking of #18, University of Georgia did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region list. This large school is located in Athens, Georgia, and it awarded 172 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

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

Full UGA Mechanical Engineering Report

19
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region list. WVU is a public institution located in Morgantown, West Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 170 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at WVU

20

Tennessee Technological University ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region list. Tennessee Technological University is a public institution located in Cookeville, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 165 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Tennessee Tech University Mechanical Engineering Report

21
UofL crest
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky

University of Louisville came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region ranking. University of Louisville is a large public school situated in Louisville, Kentucky. It awarded 153 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UofL

22

With a ranking of #22, University of Alabama in Huntsville did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region list. University of Alabama in Huntsville is a public institution located in Huntsville, Alabama. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 150 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of Alabama in Huntsville

22
Old Dominion crest
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

With a ranking of #22, Old Dominion University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region list. This large school is located in Norfolk, Virginia, and it awarded 150 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Old Dominion University Mechanical Engineering Report

24
UARK crest
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas

University of Arkansas came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region ranking. UARK is a large public school situated in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It awarded 142 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. 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 full report on Mechanical Engineering at UARK

25
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

Duke University ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in the Southeast Region list. This fairly large school is located in Durham, North Carolina, and it awarded 141 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Duke University

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