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# Best Manufacturing Engineering Programs in the United States

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Best Engineering Colleges in the United States](/rankings/best-engineering-colleges/)

This page ranks the 14 Manufacturing Engineering programs in the United States by median earnings of Manufacturing Engineering graduates four years after completing. [Northwestern University](/school/northwestern-university/majors/) leads the list with median earnings of $97,819 four years after completing.

Across the listed programs, the figures range from $97,819 to $65,387, with a median of $86,671. For 2 of the 14 programs the earnings figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions account for 10 of the 14 programs, and private nonprofits for 4. [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/majors/) ranks 15th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the strongest position on the list. Ferris State University posts the lowest average net price, at $8,624.

## The ranked list

14 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Northwestern University · Evanston, IL | $97,819 | $29,167 | $1,764 | 7.7% |
|  | [Northwestern University](/school/northwestern-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $97,819](/school/northwestern-university/outcomes/) for its Manufacturing Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 8%. |
| 2 | Grand Valley State University · Allendale, MI | $95,416 | $16,317 | $12,272 | 83.0% |
|  | [Grand Valley State University](/school/grand-valley-state-university/majors/) ranks 2nd on this list, with [$95,416 in median earnings](/school/grand-valley-state-university/outcomes/) four years after completing and a median federal debt of $24,250 among Manufacturing Engineering completers who borrowed. |
| 3 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA | $93,042 | $11,531 | $7,851 | 75.2% |
|  | A public university in Pomona, [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/majors/) posts an [average net price of $11,531](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/cost/) and ranks 15th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 4 | Brigham Young University · Provo, UT | $92,122 | $15,564 | $10,444 | 67.8% |
|  | [Brigham Young University](/school/brigham-young-university/majors/) shows [median earnings of $92,122](/school/brigham-young-university/outcomes/) four years after completing, with a median federal debt of $11,000 among Manufacturing Engineering completers who borrowed. |
| 5 | Texas State University · San Marcos, TX | $88,995 | $16,805 | $12,715 | 89.3% |
|  | [Texas State University](/school/texas-state-university/majors/) [admits 89% of applicants](/school/texas-state-university/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $88,995 for its Manufacturing Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 6 | Bradley University · Peoria, IL | $88,690 | $22,719 | $17,269 | 76.8% |
|  | [Bradley University](/school/bradley-university/majors/) has an [average net price of $22,719](/school/bradley-university/cost/) and a median federal debt of $27,000 among Manufacturing Engineering completers who borrowed. |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin-Stout · Menomonie, WI | $87,431 | $17,490 | $10,966 | 87.7% |
|  | [University of Wisconsin-Stout](/school/university-of-wisconsin-stout/majors/) reports [median earnings of $87,431](/school/university-of-wisconsin-stout/outcomes/) four years after completing, with a median federal debt of $25,200 among Manufacturing Engineering completers who borrowed. |
| 8 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion · Tempe, AZ | $85,911 | $14,967 | $9,070 | 89.9% |
|  | [Arizona State University Campus Immersion](/school/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion/majors/) [ranks 21st on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $85,911 for its Manufacturing Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
| 9 | Oregon State University · Corvallis, OR | $85,369 | $19,604 | $12,107 | 77.3% |
|  | [Oregon State University](/school/oregon-state-university/majors/) posts [median earnings of $85,369](/school/oregon-state-university/outcomes/) four years after completing, with a median federal debt of $20,653 among Manufacturing Engineering completers who borrowed. |
| 10 | Western Washington University · Bellingham, WA | $85,314 | $21,193 | $12,915 | 93.3% |
|  | [Western Washington University](/school/western-washington-university/majors/) [admits 93% of applicants](/school/western-washington-university/admissions/) and has an average net price of $21,193. |
| 11 | Ferris State University · Big Rapids, MI | $80,996 | $8,624 | $2,556 | 91.4% |
|  | [Ferris State University](/school/ferris-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $80,996](/school/ferris-state-university/outcomes/) four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $8,624. |
| 12 | Robert Morris University · Moon Township, PA | $74,446 | $23,003 | $19,548 | 89.9% |
|  | Robert Morris University shows a median federal debt of $26,950 across all of the school's borrowers who completed, and an average net price of $23,003. |
| 13 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus · Fargo, ND | $67,660 | $15,543 | $9,370 | 95.0% |
|  | [North Dakota State University-Main Campus](/school/north-dakota-state-university-main-campus/majors/) reports [median earnings of $67,660](/school/north-dakota-state-university-main-campus/outcomes/) for its Manufacturing Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 11 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 14 | Saint Cloud State University · Saint Cloud, MN | $65,387 | $13,529 | $8,909 | 94.8% |
|  | A public university in Saint Cloud, [Saint Cloud State University](/school/saint-cloud-state-university/majors/) [admits 95% of applicants](/school/saint-cloud-state-university/admissions/) and posts an average net price of $13,529. |

By region[Best Manufacturing Engineering Programs in the Midwest](/rankings/best-manufacturing-engineering-programs-in-the-midwest/)

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Manufacturing Engineering graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the United States appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 2 of the 14 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range from Northwestern University at $97,819 to the bottom of the list at $65,387 spans $32,432, with a gap of $2,403 separating Northwestern University from Grand Valley State University.

## Job market context in the United States

Manufacturing Engineering graduates in the United States enter occupations such as Industrial Engineers, Cost Estimators, and related roles. The median annual wage across those occupations is $94,559, though a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $75,953. Projections for 2024 to 2034 show about 56,600 openings a year, or about 10,990 openings a year for every hundred graduates, with more projected openings than graduates. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 4.9% higher. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses graduate earnings four years after completing, not the broader occupational wage figures described here.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Engineering Colleges in the United States](/rankings/best-engineering-colleges/)
-   Engineering Colleges for Social Mobility