2027 Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania
Mechanical Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. 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 26 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 Pennsylvania
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the mechanical engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Mechanical Engineering
Our analysis ranked Carnegie Mellon University the best school in the country for a degree in mechanical engineering. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 355 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $85,070 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,777.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for Carnegie Mellon University
University Of Pennsylvania is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in mechanical engineering, ranking #2. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 167 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $80,493 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,455.
Get the full mechanical engineering details for University Of Pennsylvania
Students looking for a strong mechanical engineering program will find one at Bucknell University, which ranked #3. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lewisburg. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 47 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Bucknell University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Bucknell University generally make around $79,391. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full mechanical engineering details for Bucknell University
A rank of #4 makes Villanova University one of the top schools for mechanical engineering. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Villanova. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 98 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Villanova University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $89,620. Typical student debt for the program is $25,995.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Villanova University
A rank of #5 makes University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus one of the top schools for mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 216 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $85,170 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Lehigh University earned the #6 position for mechanical engineering this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bethlehem. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 143 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Lehigh University in the most recent year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $87,015 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,950.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for Lehigh University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #7 for mechanical engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 464 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $86,209. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Lafayette College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 58 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Lafayette College in the most recent year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $72,481 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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Drexel University came in at #9 for mechanical engineering this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. Drexel University awarded about 167 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $83,964 in their early career. Drexel University graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Drexel University
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania landed the #10 spot for mechanical engineering this year. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. About 66% of students finish within six years. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 15 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $44,294 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,330.
Get the full mechanical engineering details for Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania
York College Pennsylvania ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of York, York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. York College Pennsylvania awarded about 56 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $74,445 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for York College Pennsylvania
Montgomery County Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Montgomery County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blue Bell. About 14 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Montgomery County Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Montgomery County Community College generally make around $39,025. Students borrow a median of $15,219 to complete this degree.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for Montgomery County Community College
Grove City College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Grove City College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Grove City. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 45 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Grove City College in the most recent data year.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for Grove City College
Temple University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Temple University graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 66 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Temple University in the most recent data year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Temple University earn a median of $66,161 early in their careers. Temple University graduates carry a median of $26,843 in student loans.
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University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown placed #15 among the best mechanical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Johnstown, University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown is a small public university. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 34 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $71,406 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown
Messiah College came in at #16 for mechanical engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Messiah College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Messiah College generally make around $48,957. Typical student debt for the program is $26,195.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Messiah College
Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #17 for mechanical engineering this year. This large public university is located in the city of University Park. About 34% of students finish within six years. About 27 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $86,209 in their early career. Pennsylvania State University World Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full mechanical engineering details for Pennsylvania State University World Campus
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College came in at #18 for mechanical engineering this year. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Erie. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College awarded about 65 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College earn a median of $69,772 early in their careers. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College
Widener University Main Campus placed #19 among the best mechanical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Chester, Widener University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Widener University Main Campus graduates 68% of students within six years. Widener University Main Campus awarded about 37 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $65,515 in their early career. Widener University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for Widener University Main Campus
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg landed the #20 spot for mechanical engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Middletown, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 26%. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg awarded about 78 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg generally make around $86,209. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Reading, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 30% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 32 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks earn around $69,772 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania landed the #22 spot for mechanical engineering this year. Set in the town of Shippensburg, Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 14 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $46,912 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,307.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania
Wilkes University earned the #23 position for mechanical engineering this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Wilkes-Barre. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 28 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Wilkes University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $63,062 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from Wilkes University
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Altoona earned the #24 position for mechanical engineering this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Altoona. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Altoona graduates 16% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Altoona awarded about 11 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Penn State Altoona generally make around $48,531. Typical student debt for the program is $25,700.
More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania State University Penn State Altoona
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Worthington Scranton placed #25 among the best mechanical engineering schools. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Worthington Scranton is a small public school located in the suburb of Dunmore. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Worthington Scranton graduates 40% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Worthington Scranton awarded about 20 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Pennsylvania State University Penn State Worthington Scranton earn a median of $69,772 early in their careers. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Worthington Scranton graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania State University Penn State Worthington Scranton
Rest of the Top 26 Mechanical Engineering Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong mechanical engineering education:
More Mechanical Engineering Rankings
View All Mechanical Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 26 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.