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2027 Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools

355 Colleges in the United States
33,226 Mechanical Engineering Degrees Awarded
$68,568 Avg Early-Career Salary

Mechanical Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 355 schools to find the best for mechanical engineering students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Mechanical Engineering in the United States

See the highest-ranked mechanical engineering schools offering a bachelor’s degree below.

Top Schools in Mechanical Engineering

1

University Of California Berkeley tops our 2027 ranking of the best mechanical engineering schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 226 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $88,497. Students borrow a median of $13,200 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from University Of California Berkeley

2

The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 279 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $82,227. Typical student debt for the program is $18,750. See the full mechanical engineering program report for The University Of Texas At Austin

3

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in mechanical engineering, ranking #3. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 311 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $80,187 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree. See the full mechanical engineering program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

4

Cornell University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 171 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $85,440 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,500. Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Cornell University

5

Students looking for a strong mechanical engineering program will find one at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 254 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $82,823. Typical student debt for the program is $21,750. See the full mechanical engineering program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

6
Duke University crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

Duke University earned the #6 position for mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 114 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from Duke University earn around $89,938 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,000. Get the full mechanical engineering details for Duke University

7

Texas A And M University College Station came in at #7 for mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 416 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $77,785 early in their careers. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Get the full mechanical engineering details for Texas A And M University College Station

8

Johns Hopkins University came in at #8 for mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 47 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $114,588 early in their careers. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans. More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from Johns Hopkins University

9
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus came in at #9 for mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 792 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $80,374. Typical student debt for the program is $19,937. Get the full mechanical engineering details for Purdue University Main Campus

10

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #10 position for mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 113 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn around $83,957 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,334 to complete this degree. Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology

11

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #11 position for mechanical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 314 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $83,011 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500. Get the full mechanical engineering details for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

12

Northwestern University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 89 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from Northwestern University earn around $75,253 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,334 to complete this degree. See the full mechanical engineering program report for Northwestern University

13

University Of Southern California earned the #13 position for mechanical engineering this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 105 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $83,356 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500. Get the full mechanical engineering details for University Of Southern California

14

University Of California Los Angeles placed #14 among the best mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 166 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $79,016 in their early career. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans. See the full mechanical engineering program report for University Of California Los Angeles

15

University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #15 position for mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 241 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $74,611 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from University Of Wisconsin Madison

16
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Stanford University earned the #16 position for mechanical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 57 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from Stanford University earn around $132,583 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree. See the full mechanical engineering program report for Stanford University

17

Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #17 position for mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 69 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $72,036 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,960 to complete this degree. Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Columbia University In The City Of New York

18
Santa Clara University crest
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Santa Clara University awarded about 67 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from Santa Clara University earn around $81,865 in the first couple years of their career. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Santa Clara University

19

Carnegie Mellon University landed the #19 spot for mechanical engineering this year. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 105 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $76,523 in their early career. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $22,777 in student loans. More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University

20

Washington University In St Louis earned the #20 position for mechanical engineering this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 107 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $72,057 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000. Get the full mechanical engineering details for Washington University In St Louis

21

Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #21 for mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 88% of students finish within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 246 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $79,359 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500. Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Ohio State University Main Campus

22

San Jose State University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 176 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. See the full mechanical engineering program report for San Jose State University

23

University Of Notre Dame placed #23 among the best mechanical engineering schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 109 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from University Of Notre Dame earn around $84,999 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from University Of Notre Dame

24

University Of California Irvine ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 225 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $67,633 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,500 to complete this degree. Get the full mechanical engineering details for University Of California Irvine

25

University Of California San Diego came in at #25 for mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 248 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $69,555 early in their careers. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. See the full mechanical engineering program report for University Of California San Diego

Rest of the Top 50 Mechanical Engineering Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong mechanical engineering education:

26
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
27
Tufts University crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA
28
29
30
31
32
University Of Pennsylvania crest
University Of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
33
Princeton University crest
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
34
Vanderbilt University crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
35
36
37
University Of Florida crest
University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL
38
39
40
41
Rice University crest
Rice University
Houston, TX
42
Olin College crest
Olin College
Needham, MA
43
44
45
46
47
Bucknell University crest
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA
48
49
50
Boston University crest
Boston University
Boston, MA

Additional Mechanical Engineering Award Winners

These schools also stood out for mechanical engineering:

Rank School Location
#51 Brown University Providence, RI
#52 University Of Minnesota Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN
#53 Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MA
#54 Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS
#55 North Carolina State University At Raleigh Raleigh, NC
#56 Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LA
#57 Rutgers University New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ
#58 University Of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, MA
#59 Villanova University Villanova, PA
#60 University Of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO
#61 University Of Missouri Columbia Columbia, MO
#62 University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA
#63 Iowa State University Ames, IA
#64 Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH
#65 University Of Virginia Main Campus Charlottesville, VA
#66 California Maritime Academy Vallejo, CA
#67 University Of Detroit Mercy Detroit, MI
#68 George Washington University Washington, DC
#69 California State University Long Beach Long Beach, CA
#70 University Of Delaware Newark, DE
#71 California State University Northridge Northridge, CA

Honorable Mentions

These schools earned honorable mentions for mechanical engineering:

Other Mechanical Engineering Degree Levels

Explore the best mechanical engineering schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Mechanical Engineering
Associate's Degrees in Mechanical Engineering
Master's Degrees in Mechanical Engineering

View All Mechanical Engineering Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 355 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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