Compare 23 Mechanical Engineering. programs in Texas. Average earnings: $79,388.
The highest-earning Mechanical Engineering program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $24K earnings gap across 23 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Lamar University's Mechanical Engineering program leads with graduates earning $93,563, outpacing UT Austin ($92,067) and SMU ($92,000). Against the state average of $79,388, these top programs demonstrate that regional publics can compete with nationally recognized names when program quality drives the comparison.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Rice University graduates borrow $11,000 and face just a 2.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families, UT Rio Grande Valley leads with a 5.9% 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 | Lamar UniversityPublic | $93,563 | 64 | $21,250 | Excellent | $11,359 | Excellent |
| #2 | $92,067 | 273 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,632 | Good | |
| #3 | $92,000 | 79 | $19,500 | Excellent | $40,025 | Manageable | |
| #4 | Rice UniversityPrivate | $89,547 | 39 | $11,000 | Excellent | $35,338 | Good |
| #5 | $88,618 | 55 | $17,750 | Excellent | $13,000 | Excellent | |
| #6 | University Of HoustonPublic | $87,358 | 220 | $18,194 | Excellent | $18,072 | Good |
| #7 | $86,346 | 441 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Good | |
| #8 | Baylor UniversityPrivate | $83,751 | 84 | $23,000 | Excellent | $50,786 | Challenging |
| #9 | $83,398 | 198 | $18,000 | Excellent | $11,916 | Excellent | |
| #10 | $81,500 | 77 | $22,934 | Excellent | $14,224 | Good | |
| #11 | $81,422 | 156 | $17,527 | Excellent | $12,313 | Excellent | |
| #12 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $81,351 | 357 | $21,500 | Excellent | $23,443 | Good |
| #13 | $80,251 | 43 | $19,500 | Excellent | $12,719 | Good | |
| #14 | $79,653 | 107 | $17,137 | Excellent | $15,463 | Good | |
| #15 | $77,070 | 217 | $18,000 | Excellent | $21,495 | Good | |
| #16 | $74,988 | 166 | $19,250 | Excellent | $23,211 | Manageable | |
| #17 | $74,620 | 187 | $20,500 | Excellent | $13,859 | Good | |
| #18 | $74,167 | 99 | $12,950 | Excellent | $8,107 | Excellent | |
| #19 | Letourneau UniversityPrivate | $73,617 | 52 | $26,000 | Excellent | $24,703 | Manageable |
| #20 | $69,757 | 70 | $27,000 | Excellent | $16,012 | Manageable | |
| #21 | $67,147 | 50 | $21,030 | Excellent | $19,367 | Manageable | |
| #22 | $65,150 | 83 | $23,000 | Excellent | $25,348 | Manageable | |
| #23 | $48,585 | 14 | $19,606 | Good | $17,125 | Challenging |
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 →
