### SUMMARY

 Choosing to study Mechanical Engineering is a valuable choice and generally a necessary first step for undergraduates planning to enter a career as a mechanical design engineer, a product development engineer, or a senior mechanical engineer. Interestingly, mechanical engineering is a very popular major choice, coming in at the 16th most popular area of study. Last year, there were 37,343 mechanical engineering degrees conferred. In-state tuition for mechanical engineering at private schools is, on average, 4 times more expensive than their public counterparts.

 There are 372 colleges that offer mechanical engineering. 372 institutions is fairly average in terms of the number of institutions which offer each degree. If you are hoping to surround yourself with other mechanical engineering majors, look at universities in California which have the most undergraduates admitted to mechanical engineering annually. More generally, the best region to get a degree in mechanical engineering is in the Southeast region with [University of Central Florida](/colleges/university-of-central-florida), [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus](/colleges/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus), and [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](/colleges/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university) best representing the region. Interestingly, our selection for the best conference to study mechanical engineering is the Big Ten Conference with [University of Maryland-College Park](/colleges/university-of-maryland-college-park), [Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus](/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus), and [Purdue University-Main Campus](/colleges/purdue-university-main-campus) representing the conference. On that topic, our choice for the best school for mechanical engineering is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology), and here you can find our comprehensive list for the [best colleges](/rankings/best-colleges).

 The objectively 'best' school might not actually be the 'best' school for you. There might be lots of facets to weigh when selecting ​university. Features such as campus amenities, transportation services, and food would definitely alter your choice of where to go to university. Here at authority.org, we have examined the pros and cons for you. If, for example, you are interested in which mechanical engineering school has the top college campus, the answer is [Northeastern University](/colleges/northeastern-university). If you are very interested in which school boasts the finest campus, then we have an entire list [dedicated to that](/rankings/best-college-campuses). We have carefully pored through student reviews, professor reviews, government databases, and more to evaluate every U.S. major in an unbiased and informative way. Here you can explore our comprehensive list for the schools with the [best student life](/rankings/best-student-life)&nbspand, from that list, our pick for the college with the best student life for mechanical engineering is [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university). Are you curious why? Continue reading to find out more about our top choices. Some of our conclusions just might shock you.

 If expense is a major deciding factor in your decision on where to go to university, you might consider avoiding [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university). [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university)&nbspis the most expensive school for mechanical engineering, at least for out of state enrollment. That being said, we have an entire page for the [most expensive](/rankings/most-expensive-colleges)&nbspuniversities that might put the expense of [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university)&nbspinto perspective. Additionally, you could be interested to know that mechanical engineering is the 51st most expensive degree in the nation, with an average cost of $49,200. To zoom out a little, the most expensive state for mechanical engineering on our list is Massachusetts with tuition and fees at the primary three institutions Boston University at $54,720, Massachusetts Institute of Technology of $53,450, and tuition and fees at Tufts University of $53,450. To zoom out even further, the most expensive region for mechanical engineering is the New England region which is best demonstrated with [Yale University](/colleges/yale-university) with a cost of $55,500, [Boston University](/colleges/boston-university) with a cost of $54,720, and [Tufts University](/colleges/tufts-university) with a cost of $57,324.

 Our cheapest region for mechanical engineering is the Rocky Mountains region which is represented by [Brigham Young University-Idaho](/colleges/brigham-young-university-idaho) with a cost of $4,208, [Brigham Young University-Provo](/colleges/brigham-young-university-provo) with a cost of $5,790, and [University of Wyoming](/colleges/university-of-wyoming) with a cost of $13,392. On the bright side, the most affordable college for mechanical engineering is [University of Florida](/colleges/university-of-florida). Authority's entire list of the most affordable universities can be explored [here](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges).

 In-state attendees can anticipate paying in the neighborhood of $10,600 for a degree in mechanical engineering. That cost balloons substantially to an average of $25,400 for an out-of-state public-school undergraduate. As such, you might be interested in our selection for the college with the best value for mechanical engineering: [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology). On this page you can find our comprehensive list of the colleges we believe to be the [best value](/rankings/best-value-colleges)&nbspoverall. With that said, this discussion is predicated on out-of-state tuition costs. The value proposition changes when it comes to in-state tuition, but we do not know where you live (and are not trying to collect that kind of data).

 Earnings for mechanical engineering majors differ widely, but within two-years of graduation graduates will often earn around $60,900. While there can be a lot of variation in earnings potential; highest paid earners can make up to $105,000. Even straight out of school, the lowest earning positions within the mechanical engineering field make $36,000, which could be worse. The highest earning graduates for mechanical engineering studied at [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology)&nbspand if you want to find the colleges with all of the [highest earning graduates](/rankings/highest-earning-graduates), Authority has that too.

 The overall diversity of mechanical engineering stands solid, ranking in the 60th percentile of all majors. The school with the highest composite diversity for mechanical engineering is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology)&nbspand here you can find our general list for the universities which have the [most diversity](/rankings/most-diverse-colleges). The overall financial diversity of Mechanical Engineering stands only in the 30th percentile compared to all other majors. Racial diversity is actually greater, in the 62nd percentile. White collegians compose the largest proportion at 55% of scholars studying mechanical engineering. Additionally, 82% of students seeking a mechanical engineering major are men.

 The median ranking for mechanical engineering's professors is 3.6 stars, which is 10% below the median score across all majors; which is a subpar ranking. If you want to find the most popular mechanical engineering instructor in the country, take a look at Trivikrama Pala from [New Jersey Institute of Technology](/colleges/new-jersey-institute-of-technology). It might come as a shock, but the top ranked mechanical engineering professors according to students come from [Concordia University-Chicago](/colleges/concordia-university-chicago). If we incorporate data beyond just rankings we find that the college with the overall best instructors for mechanical engineering is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology). You can find more detail on our ever evolving ranking methodology of the [best overall professors here](/rankings/best-professors), along with many of the best examples of professors in the U.S.

 Finally, the most difficult college to get into for mechanical engineering is [Stanford University](/colleges/stanford-university). While we do not necessarily see the value in it, we do have a comprehensive page for the [hardest colleges to get into](/rankings/hardest-colleges-to-get-into). But, we do hope you understand that looking at the education process from context primarily informed by superlatives can create issues. We at Authority encourage you to explore our more focused pages on different universities and explore a few of our helpful background articles on important details to look for as you continue your college search.



 ### POPULARITY

 Mechanical engineering is the 16th most popular degree in America, with 37,343 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #17 [Computer and Information Sciences](/rankings/best-colleges-for-computer-and-information-sciences), and narrowly lost to #15 [Economics](/rankings/best-colleges-for-economics).

 The degree is offered at a total of 372 colleges across the nation, and is the 61st most widely offered degree. Given that mechanical engineering is offered at 48% of the Top 100 [Best Colleges](/rankings/best-colleges) in America, you can be sure this is a critical degree and the skillsets acquired are likely to last for a long time.

 It is also worth noting that in the neighborhood of two out of three colleges offering mechanical engineering are public making it a quite accessible field.

 The southeast produces the most mechanical engineering graduates, largely led by [University of Central Florida](/colleges/university-of-central-florida), while it’s the Big Ten Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, California ranks highest, with particular help from [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](/colleges/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo) and [University of California-Irvine](/colleges/university-of-california-irvine).

 All that being said, no individual school produces more mechanical engineering graduates than [Naval Postgraduate School](/colleges/naval-postgraduate-school), which graduated 552 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study mechanical engineering). More students studied mechanical engineering as a percentage of total students at [Kettering University](/colleges/kettering-university) than any other college.



 ### COST

 Mechanical engineering is the 51st most expensive major in America, with a median cost of $49,183 amongst the top 50 programs (just ahead of #52, [Liberal Arts and Sciences](rankings/best-colleges-for-liberal-arts-and-sciences), with a median cost of $48,615).

 New England has the most expensive schools with great mechanical engineering programs predominantly led by [Yale University](/colleges/yale-university) with an annual cost of $55,500. Massachusetts is the most expensive state for mechanical engineering led by [Boston University](/colleges/boston-university) and [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology).

 Public schools with good programs generally charge 74.89% less than private schools for in-state students. However, when looking at out-of-state tuition, the median top 50 Public school charges 40.21% less than the median private school. So, if you're applying to a state school, make sure you're eligible for in-state tuition as soon as possible.

 The most expensive top 25 college for mechanical engineering is [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university), which is the 23rd most expensive college in the United States. The most affordable option in the top 100 is [CUNY City College](/colleges/cuny-city-college). It costs just $14,880 per year but is ranked 91st for its mechanical engineering program. If you’re looking for the least expensive option in the top 25, [University of Florida](/colleges/university-of-florida)  is probably for you, ranked #12 with an in-state cost of just $4,477. Another more affordable pick would be #8, [Purdue University-Main Campus](/colleges/purdue-university-main-campus) in Tippecanoe County, IN with a cost of $9,208 for in-state students and $28,010 for out-of-state students.



### SALARY

 Going to college is a huge investment for most undergraduates. It's important to be assured you get a strong return on your investment. With that in mind, we hope the following career and earnings information help you make an informed decision when choosing your focus.

 The average Mechanical Engineering graduate earns a first year salary of $67,924 per annum, making them the 24th largest earning graduates. Further into their careers, they can bring in up to $104,991 a year to as little as $35,981, but average about $60,946. Just so you know, that's 58% north of the United States average.

 The most popular work position for a Mechanical Engineering graduate is Engineer, which for the most part make about $59,000; next are Senior Engineer and Software Engineer, which usually earn approximately $75,000 and $65,000 respectively.

 The Great Lakes has the best paid Mechanical Engineering graduates. MI has the best paid Mechanical Engineering alumni of any state. Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has the highest grossing Mechanical Engineering graduates of any conference..



### PROFESSORS

 Fast Facts for Mechanical Engineering: Median Professor Rating: 3.6 / 5, which is below average.

 Professors oftentimes have a big impact your college experience, no matter what you study. A great teacher may help a student find their passion and set you up for future success. Contrarily, an ineffective professor can mess up your education or even worse... flunk you!

 Professors of Mechanical Engineering, sadly, only have a median student rating of 3.6 / 5, which puts them in the bottom 9% in the nation based on overall professor effectivness. For context that's 10% lower than the national median professor rating for all subjects. Mechanical Engineering professors just edged-out those from ["Fitness Administration"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-fitness-administration), whereas ["Electrical Engineering Technologies"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-electrical-engineering-technologies)&nbspprofessors ranked one slot above Mechanical Engineering.

 Now for some statistics about Mechanical Engineering professors. Colleges located in midsize suburbs tend to have the best Mechanical Engineering professors. The Gulf South Conference has the highest rated Mechanical Engineering professors. The Southwest region has the highest rated Mechanical Engineering professors. Private universities tend to have higher rated Mechanical Engineering professors than public universities. Finally, Idaho has the highest rated Mechanical Engineering professors in the nation.

 Trivikrama Pala, instructor at [New Jersey Institute of Technology](/colleges/new-jersey-institute-of-technology)&nbspin Newark, NJ is the most popular Mechanical Engineering professor in the United States. Matt Franchetti, professor at [University of Toledo](/colleges/university-of-toledo)&nbspin Toledo, OH is the highest rated Mechanical Engineering professor in America, with a rating of 5 / 5.

 Take a look at which colleges have the [Best Professors](/rankings/best-professors)!



### STUDENTS

 College is an extremely meaningful time in one's life; it is a time for personal growth and maturation. Scholars begin to figure out who they are and build the essential skills to be a prosperous member of society. But growth is not simply found in the classroom - the campus dialogue, the life lesson received from an old instructor, the exposure to a different position. As such, a diverse student population vastly improves what you gain from your time spent in university.

 Mechanical Engineering is a slightly more ethnically diverse major than average\*. 55% of the nation's Mechanical Engineering majors are white students, followed by students of other races\*\*(24%), asian students (10%), and latino students (9%). The most ethnically diverse college\* in the top 100 is [University of Houston](/colleges/university-of-houston)&nbspin Houston, TX.

 Secondly, Mechanical Engineering skews very male, more so 95% of subjects. 82% of students majoring in Mechanical Engineering identify as men. [Franklin W Olin College of Engineering](/colleges/franklin-w-olin-college-of-engineering) in Needham, MA has the most gender balanced student body in the top 100.

 Another critical type of diversity is financial diversity. Sadly, Mechanical Engineering ranks in the bottom 30% of subjects wealth diversity. 32% of its majors come from households with $110,000 plus annual incomes, 16% are from mid-income homes, and 23% grew up in low income homes. [The University of Texas at Dallas](/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-dallas) has the most fiscally diverse students in the top 100.

 Considering each type of diversity, overall CA is the most diverse state for Mechanical Engineering. The Far West is the most diverse region, and the is the most diverse conference.

   \* diversity calculations and comparisons are based on [Simpson's Diversity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_index)   
  \*\* other races is used to refer to non asian, black, latino, or white

  #### Diversity Statistics

  ##### Racial Diversity

 * Asian: 10%
* Black: 2%
* Latino: 9%
* White: 55%
* Other: 24%
  ##### Gender Diversity

 * Male: 82%
* Female: 18%
  ##### Socioeconomic Diversity (By Household Income)

 * Under 30k: 23%
* 30k - 48k: 14%
* 48k - 75k: 16%
* 75k - 110k: 15%
* Over 110k: 32%
  ##### Geographic Diversity

 * In State: 64%
* Out of State: 28%
* International: 8%


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Search for the best Mechanical Engineering colleges according to your filter parameters.

2023 Mechanical Engineering Salary

There are about 102,231 students enrolled in Mechanical Engineering in the USA.

SALARY