Engineering programs produce graduates with career earnings ranging from $26,223 to $143,372 ten years after enrollment. Across 353 programs nationwide, this $117,000 spread in median earnings demonstrates why program selection significantly impacts technical careers and long-term earning potential in STEM fields.
Leading the rankings is University Of California-Berkeley, achieving the highest program earnings at $143,344. Santa Clara University follows at $125,546, while Maine Maritime Academy rounds out the top three at $116,961, demonstrating how diverse engineering degree pathways can deliver exceptional graduate outcomes across different institutional types.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Berkeley, CA | $143,344 Median Engineering Earnings | $5,895 | 11.7% | 92.9% | |
| #2 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | Santa Clara, CA | $123,446 Median Engineering Earnings | $36,094 | 43.8% | 88.4% |
| #3 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | Pittsburgh, PA | $115,399 Median Engineering Earnings | $8,460 | 11.4% | 92.5% |
| #4 | Duke UniversityPrivate | Durham, NC | $114,515 Median Engineering Earnings | $3,295 | 6.8% | 95.8% |
| #5 | Maine Maritime AcademyPublic | Castine, ME | $114,279 Median Engineering Earnings | $12,499 | 61.4% | 61.4% |
| #6 | Cambridge, MA | $111,126 Median Engineering Earnings | -$4,129 | 4.7% | 96.1% | |
| #7 | Stanford UniversityPrivate | Stanford, CA | $104,513 Median Engineering Earnings | -$79 | 3.9% | 92.8% |
| #8 | Harvey Mudd CollegePrivate | Claremont, CA | $103,969 Median Engineering Earnings | $17,340 | 13.1% | 93.8% |
| #9 | San Jose, CA | $103,867 Median Engineering Earnings | $9,743 | 80.2% | 64.6% | |
| #10 | Los Angeles, CA | $103,536 Median Engineering Earnings | $15,470 | 10.0% | 92.0% | |
| #11 | Los Angeles, CA | $102,316 Median Engineering Earnings | $6,864 | 8.7% | 92.7% | |
| #12 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | Ithaca, NY | $102,170 Median Engineering Earnings | $4,079 | 8.2% | 95.1% |
| #13 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | Evanston, IL | $101,968 Median Engineering Earnings | $1,243 | 7.1% | 95.9% |
| #14 | Suny Maritime CollegePublic | Throggs Neck, NY | $101,933 Median Engineering Earnings | $14,478 | 78.5% | 74.9% |
| #15 | Buzzards Bay, MA | $101,641 Median Engineering Earnings | $5,269 | 94.5% | 79.1% | |
| #16 | Santa Cruz, CA | $101,561 Median Engineering Earnings | $9,472 | 62.5% | 74.5% | |
| #17 | Vallejo, CA | $101,325 Median Engineering Earnings | $11,357 | 98.7% | 66.8% | |
| #18 | Charlottesville, VA | $100,382 Median Engineering Earnings | $10,123 | 16.9% | 95.3% | |
| #19 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $99,411 Median Engineering Earnings | $6,476 | 29.8% | 85.2% | |
| #20 | Needham, MA | $99,146 Median Engineering Earnings | $7,058 | 21.7% | 92.2% |
