Compare 16 Manufacturing Engineering. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $85,138. Top programs: $97,819+.
The highest-earning Manufacturing Engineering program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $22K earnings gap across 14 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona's Manufacturing Engineering program leads with graduates earning $83,569, while Georgia Southern University follows closely at $83,438. The average across all programs is $74,238, yet these regional publics outperform many brand-name institutions while offering superior value.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Brigham Young University graduates borrow $11,069 and face just a 2.6% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income.
Highest program earnings: $83,569
Strong outcomes with 74% acceptance
2.6% payment burden | Excellent
5.3% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $97,819 | 27 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Good |
| #2 | $95,416 | 20 | $24,500 | Excellent | $26,392 | Good | |
| #3 | $93,042 | 46 | $16,000 | Excellent | $15,000 | Excellent | |
| #4 | Brigham Young UniversityPrivate | $92,122 | 31 | $11,069 | Excellent | $9,699 | Excellent |
| #5 | $90,176 | 15 | $16,000 | Excellent | $20,697 | Good | |
| #6 | Texas State UniversityPublic | $88,995 | 43 | $21,000 | Excellent | $22,500 | Good |
| #7 | Bradley UniversityPrivate | $88,690 | 16 | $27,000 | Excellent | $41,405 | Manageable |
| #8 | $87,431 | 13 | $23,000 | Excellent | $11,000 | Excellent | |
| #9 | $85,911 | 16 | $19,500 | Excellent | $23,519 | Good | |
| #10 | Oregon State UniversityPublic | $85,369 | 88 | $21,221 | Excellent | $28,923 | Good |
| #11 | $85,314 | 18 | $18,500 | Excellent | $23,123 | Good | |
| #12 | $83,438 | 22 | $23,250 | Excellent | $16,000 | Good | |
| #13 | Ferris State UniversityPublic | $80,996 | 32 | $21,000 | Excellent | $14,849 | Good |
| #14 | Robert Morris UniversityPrivate | $74,446 | 6 | $26,950 | Excellent | $38,989 | Challenging |
| #15 | $67,660 | 11 | $23,199 | Excellent | $14,621 | Manageable | |
| #16 | $65,387 | 8 | $21,058 | Excellent | $11,598 | Good |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
