Compare 20 Mechanical Engineering. programs in New York. Average earnings: $82,312.
With top graduates earning $99,578, Mechanical Engineering stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $17K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Topping the list, SUNY Maritime College's program delivers $99,578 in median earnings, followed by Cornell at $97,093. The average across all 20 programs is $82,312, but what's remarkable is seeing a specialized SUNY campus outperform an Ivy League institution—clear evidence that program strength transcends school reputation.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Cornell graduates borrow $14,000 and face just a 2.6% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families considering parent loans, CUNY City College leads with a 7.1% family burden, proving the best choice depends on who's paying.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Suny Maritime CollegePublic | $99,578 | 49 | $23,250 | Excellent | $38,700 | Manageable |
| #2 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $97,093 | 156 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Good |
| #3 | $92,781 | 50 | $23,334 | Excellent | $39,731 | Manageable | |
| #4 | Syracuse UniversityPrivate | $90,527 | 83 | $26,000 | Excellent | $39,841 | Manageable |
| #5 | $88,498 | 68 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Manageable | |
| #6 | Stony Brook UniversityPublic | $87,654 | 135 | $18,228 | Excellent | $21,400 | Good |
| #7 | Union CollegePrivate | $85,242 | 45 | $25,337 | Excellent | $57,000 | Challenging |
| #8 | Cuny City CollegePublic | $84,427 | 125 | $11,990 | Excellent | $17,460 | Excellent |
| #9 | $84,101 | 233 | $23,750 | Excellent | $52,241 | Challenging | |
| #10 | $83,505 | 185 | $26,778 | Excellent | $35,625 | Manageable | |
| #11 | Manhattan CollegePrivate | $81,951 | 75 | $26,000 | Excellent | $56,630 | Challenging |
| #12 | Clarkson UniversityPrivate | $80,586 | 175 | $26,000 | Excellent | $36,890 | Manageable |
| #13 | Hofstra UniversityPrivate | $79,950 | 32 | $23,621 | Excellent | $56,149 | Challenging |
| #14 | Binghamton UniversityPublic | $78,799 | 100 | $18,500 | Excellent | $27,270 | Manageable |
| #15 | University Of RochesterPrivate | $77,297 | 80 | $21,000 | Excellent | $30,000 | Manageable |
| #16 | Alfred UniversityPrivate | $77,001 | 53 | $26,000 | Excellent | $20,269 | Manageable |
| #17 | New York UniversityPrivate | $76,421 | 96 | $20,500 | Excellent | $64,795 | Challenging |
| #18 | University At BuffaloPublic | $74,299 | 250 | $19,000 | Excellent | $20,734 | Good |
| #19 | $66,274 | 43 | $18,750 | Excellent | $23,871 | Manageable | |
| #20 | $60,249 | 21 | $17,250 | Excellent | $18,928 | Manageable |
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 →
