Compare 307 Mechanical Engineering. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $80,802. Top programs: $115,915+.
Mechanical Engineering programs produce graduates earning between $92,781 and $115,915—a $23K spread that demonstrates why program selection matters independently of school prestige. Across 307 ranked programs, outcomes vary based on program quality, not institutional reputation.
Stanford's Mechanical Engineering program leads with graduates earning $115,915, while the average across all programs is $80,802. But Duke ($101,532) and California State University Maritime Academy ($101,325) prove that strong outcomes aren't limited to the most prestigious names—Maritime Academy accepts 99% of applicants yet delivers top-tier results.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Stanford graduates borrow $12,000 and face just a 1.8% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Franklin W Olin College Of Engineering leads family value with a 3.6% family burden, proving that top programs can also be financially smart choices.
Highest program earnings: $115,915
Strong outcomes ($101,325) with 99% acceptance
1.8% payment burden | Excellent
3.6% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Stanford UniversityPrivate | $115,915 | 54 | $12,000 | Excellent | $38,333 | Good |
| #2 | Duke UniversityPrivate | $101,532 | 91 | $13,000 | Excellent | $27,998 | Excellent |
| #3 | $101,325 | 44 | $24,965 | Excellent | $38,432 | Manageable | |
| #4 | Suny Maritime CollegePublic | $99,578 | 49 | $23,250 | Excellent | $38,700 | Manageable |
| #5 | Johns Hopkins UniversityPrivate | $99,498 | 40 | $10,250 | Excellent | $29,048 | Excellent |
| #6 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | $99,067 | 48 | $19,162 | Excellent | $56,271 | Manageable |
| #7 | $98,644 | 147 | $14,768 | Excellent | $42,501 | Good | |
| #8 | $98,455 | 177 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Good | |
| #9 | $97,701 | 138 | $14,000 | Excellent | $26,176 | Good | |
| #10 | $97,466 | 308 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Good | |
| #11 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | $97,151 | 130 | $21,750 | Excellent | $37,130 | Good |
| #12 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $97,093 | 156 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Good |
| #13 | $96,456 | 36 | $19,500 | Excellent | $0 | Excellent | |
| #14 | $95,510 | 193 | $15,000 | Excellent | $20,820 | Excellent | |
| #15 | $94,289 | 179 | $15,500 | Excellent | $24,257 | Good | |
| #16 | Wayne State UniversityPublic | $94,043 | 84 | $21,250 | Excellent | $16,378 | Excellent |
| #17 | Lamar UniversityPublic | $93,563 | 64 | $21,250 | Excellent | $11,359 | Excellent |
| #18 | University Of MiamiPrivate | $93,219 | 40 | $17,500 | Excellent | $37,267 | Good |
| #19 | $93,001 | 96 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Good | |
| #20 | $92,781 | 50 | $23,334 | Excellent | $39,731 | Manageable | |
| #21 | $92,171 | 163 | $20,500 | Excellent | $25,645 | Good | |
| #22 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $92,129 | 67 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Good |
| #23 | $92,067 | 273 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,632 | Good | |
| #24 | $92,000 | 79 | $19,500 | Excellent | $40,025 | Manageable | |
| #25 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | $91,691 | 53 | $20,449 | Excellent | $30,881 | 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 →
