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 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | Pittsburgh, PA | $161,265 Median Engineering Earnings | $9,097 | 11.7% | 94.1% |
| #2 | Berkeley, CA | $158,239 Median Engineering Earnings | $5,311 | 11.0% | 92.8% | |
| #3 | Duke UniversityPrivate | Durham, NC | $143,003 Median Engineering Earnings | $735 | 5.7% | 96.8% |
| #4 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | Santa Clara, CA | $139,003 Median Engineering Earnings | $22,985 | 48.0% | 87.9% |
| #5 | Los Angeles, CA | $128,783 Median Engineering Earnings | $5,579 | 9.0% | 92.6% | |
| #6 | Vallejo, CA | $126,395 Median Engineering Earnings | $13,552 | 95.0% | 59.7% | |
| #7 | Cambridge, MA | $126,147 Median Engineering Earnings | -$2,533 | 4.5% | 96.4% | |
| #8 | Maine Maritime AcademyPublic | Castine, ME | $126,107 Median Engineering Earnings | $9,511 | 54.1% | 58.2% |
| #9 | Buzzards Bay, MA | $125,016 Median Engineering Earnings | $8,757 | 94.7% | 74.1% | |
| #10 | New York, NY | $123,859 Median Engineering Earnings | $4,570 | 4.0% | 96.1% | |
| #11 | Harvey Mudd CollegePrivate | Claremont, CA | $122,845 Median Engineering Earnings | $27,979 | 12.7% | 91.9% |
| #12 | Santa Cruz, CA | $121,686 Median Engineering Earnings | $8,717 | 65.8% | 75.1% | |
| #13 | Santa Barbara, CA | $120,049 Median Engineering Earnings | $9,231 | 33.0% | 83.0% | |
| #14 | New York, NY | $118,998 Median Engineering Earnings | $3,749 | 20.7% | 81.1% | |
| #15 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | Ithaca, NY | $118,309 Median Engineering Earnings | $1,776 | 8.8% | 95.4% |
| #16 | Austin, TX | $117,188 Median Engineering Earnings | $12,553 | 26.6% | 88.9% | |
| #17 | Tacoma, WA | $116,010 Median Engineering Earnings | $4,458 | 82.5% | 63.2% | |
| #18 | Los Angeles, CA | $115,921 Median Engineering Earnings | $13,516 | 9.8% | 91.8% | |
| #19 | Bothell, WA | $114,790 Median Engineering Earnings | $5,573 | 90.6% | 65.3% | |
| #20 | Rice UniversityPrivate | Houston, TX | $114,381 Median Engineering Earnings | $5,827 | 8.0% | 94.6% |
