Compare 78 Mechanical Engineering. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $79,731.
The highest-earning Mechanical Engineering program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $10K earnings gap across 78 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Wayne State University's Mechanical Engineering program leads with graduates earning $94,043, followed by Northwestern at $92,129. The regional public outperforms the private elite by nearly $2,000, while averaging $79,731 across all programs shows significant variation within the same field.
For families, the math favors Wayne State. Students borrow $21,250 with a 4.1% payment burden, but including parent loans, the family burden stays at just 7.7%—still in the 'Excellent' category. Northwestern students face minimal debt at $15,000, creating a 3.0% burden that's easily manageable.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Wayne State UniversityPublic | $94,043 | 84 | $21,250 | Excellent | $16,378 | Excellent |
| #2 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $92,129 | 67 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Good |
| #3 | Kettering UniversityPrivate | $91,536 | 260 | $27,000 | Excellent | $35,000 | Manageable |
| #4 | $91,187 | 289 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Good | |
| #5 | $90,069 | 157 | $22,500 | Excellent | $16,132 | Good | |
| #6 | Oakland UniversityPublic | $89,376 | 182 | $22,750 | Excellent | $17,858 | Good |
| #7 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | $89,369 | 119 | $19,000 | Excellent | $40,731 | Manageable |
| #8 | $89,324 | 81 | $27,000 | Excellent | $54,800 | Challenging | |
| #9 | $87,705 | 179 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Manageable | |
| #10 | $87,105 | 289 | $23,250 | Excellent | $37,401 | Manageable | |
| #11 | $86,755 | 248 | $19,976 | Excellent | $25,868 | Good | |
| #12 | $86,634 | 154 | $25,000 | Excellent | $71,022 | Challenging | |
| #13 | $86,231 | 190 | $20,484 | Excellent | $28,364 | Good | |
| #14 | $85,827 | 104 | $17,500 | Excellent | $24,585 | Good | |
| #15 | $85,429 | 376 | $19,500 | Excellent | $29,448 | Good | |
| #16 | $84,789 | 48 | $27,000 | Excellent | $23,103 | Good | |
| #17 | University Of St ThomasPrivate | $84,744 | 102 | $23,250 | Excellent | $24,467 | Good |
| #18 | $84,682 | 198 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,729 | Good | |
| #19 | $84,088 | 52 | $18,750 | Excellent | $18,462 | Good | |
| #20 | $83,864 | 166 | $20,500 | Excellent | $32,529 | Manageable | |
| #21 | University Of Mount UnionPrivate | $83,778 | 26 | $27,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Manageable |
| #22 | $83,593 | 279 | $23,250 | Excellent | $30,462 | Manageable | |
| #23 | University Of DaytonPrivate | $83,262 | 195 | $23,250 | Excellent | $43,810 | Manageable |
| #24 | $82,648 | 283 | $24,990 | Excellent | $29,300 | Manageable | |
| #25 | $82,466 | 91 | $24,000 | Excellent | $31,458 | 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 →
