2027 Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Virginia
Mechanical Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools to find the best for mechanical engineering students.
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Best Schools for Mechanical Engineering in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall mechanical engineering education in Virginia.
Top Schools in Mechanical Engineering
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University tops our 2027 ranking of the best mechanical engineering schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 407 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $80,722 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in mechanical engineering, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 90 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $74,366 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250.
More information about a degree in mechanical engineering from University Of Virginia Main Campus
George Mason University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 85 mechanical engineering students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Mechanical Engineering graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $73,570 early in their careers. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for George Mason University
A rank of #4 makes Virginia Commonwealth University one of the top schools for mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 90 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $73,355 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,235.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Virginia Commonwealth University
Old Dominion University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Norfolk. About 46% of students finish within six years. Old Dominion University awarded about 118 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mechanical engineering program make about $71,774 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Old Dominion University
Liberty University landed the #6 spot for mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Liberty University graduates 67% of students within six years. Liberty University awarded about 60 mechanical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $65,794. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the mechanical engineering program at Liberty University
Virginia Military Institute ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best mechanical engineering schools. Set in the town of Lexington, Virginia Military Institute is a small public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 18 mechanical engineering degrees were awarded at Virginia Military Institute in the most recent year. Students who receive their mechanical engineering degree from Virginia Military Institute earn around $47,837 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,971 to complete this degree.
See the full mechanical engineering program report for Virginia Military Institute
More Mechanical Engineering Rankings
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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 · 7 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.
