2027 Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 61 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for mechanical engineering students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Mechanical Engineering in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall mechanical engineering education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Mechanical Engineering
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in mechanical engineering. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 446 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $92,881. 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
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 83% of students finish within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 1,148 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $101,895 in their early career. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,937 in student loans.
Get the full mechanical engineering details for Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 461 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $92,369 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,750 to complete this degree.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top schools for mechanical engineering. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 309 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $81,716. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from University Of Wisconsin Madison
Students looking for a strong mechanical engineering program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #5. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 147 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from Northwestern University earn around $79,616 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $15,334 in student loans.
More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for mechanical engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. About 88% of students finish within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 303 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $88,747 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Get the full mechanical engineering details for Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Notre Dame placed #7 among the best mechanical engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Notre Dame graduates 95% of students within six years. About 142 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $84,999 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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Michigan State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. Michigan State University awarded about 275 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from Michigan State University earn around $80,259 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,000.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Michigan State University
University Of Detroit Mercy landed the #9 spot for mechanical engineering this year. University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Detroit. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 27 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Detroit Mercy in the most recent year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $78,552 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,053 to complete this degree.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at University Of Detroit Mercy
Case Western Reserve University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Case Western Reserve University graduates 87% of students within six years. About 114 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from Case Western Reserve University earn around $76,736 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,855 to complete this degree.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Case Western Reserve University
University Of Toledo landed the #11 spot for mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. University Of Toledo graduates 58% of students within six years. University Of Toledo awarded about 141 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from University Of Toledo earn around $77,011 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,900 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from University Of Toledo
Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology placed #12 among the best mechanical engineering schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Terre Haute. Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology graduates 78% of students within six years. Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology awarded about 151 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $78,732 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,612 to complete this degree.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #13 spot for mechanical engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 327 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $83,881 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,998 to complete this degree.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
University Of Dayton placed #14 among the best mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of Dayton graduates 80% of students within six years. University Of Dayton awarded about 210 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $71,911. University Of Dayton graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for University Of Dayton
Oakland University landed the #15 spot for mechanical engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 134 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Oakland University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $91,832. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Oakland University
North Central College earned the #16 position for mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. North Central College awarded about 14 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from North Central College earn around $46,247 in the first couple years of their career. North Central College graduates carry a median of $25,699 in student loans.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at North Central College
University Of Michigan Dearborn placed #17 among the best mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 139 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Dearborn in the most recent data year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $87,958 early in their careers. University Of Michigan Dearborn graduates carry a median of $23,950 in student loans.
More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from University Of Michigan Dearborn
Kettering University placed #18 among the best mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Flint, Kettering University is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. There were roughly 133 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Kettering University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from Kettering University earn around $79,307 in the first couple years of their career. Kettering University graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for Kettering University
Lawrence Technological University came in at #19 for mechanical engineering this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Southfield. Lawrence Technological University graduates 60% of students within six years. About 66 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Lawrence Technological University in the most recent year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $77,321 in their early career. Lawrence Technological University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from Lawrence Technological University
Michigan Technological University earned the #20 position for mechanical engineering this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Houghton. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Michigan Technological University awarded about 305 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from Michigan Technological University earn around $80,888 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #21 spot for mechanical engineering this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 216 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $69,871. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for University Of Illinois At Chicago
University Of Southern Indiana placed #22 among the best mechanical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public university. University Of Southern Indiana graduates 48% of students within six years. About 21 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Southern Indiana in the most recent year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $47,216 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,999.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for University Of Southern Indiana
North Park University earned the #23 position for mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Chicago, North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 12 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at North Park University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from North Park University generally make around $51,611. Typical student debt for the program is $27,360.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for North Park University
Bradley University came in at #24 for mechanical engineering this year. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 56 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Bradley University in the most recent year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from Bradley University earn around $71,746 in the first couple years of their career. Bradley University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for Bradley University
Wayne State University came in at #25 for mechanical engineering this year. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Wayne State University awarded about 79 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $85,140 in their early career. Wayne State University graduates carry a median of $24,140 in student loans.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Wayne State University
Rest of the Top 50 Mechanical Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s mechanical engineering ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 61 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.