Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards.Our methodology

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Best Mechanical Engineering. Programs in the Midwest (2025)

Compare 78 Mechanical Engineering. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $79,731.

All 78 Programs

Rank	School	Program Earnings	Cohort Size	Student Debt	Student GPS	Parent Debt	Parent GPS
#76	Purdue University Fort WaynePublic	$64,534	18	$21,500	Excellent	$12,362	Good
#77	University Of EvansvillePrivate	$61,020	16	$24,606	Good	$26,848	Challenging
#78	Indiana Institute Of Technology-College Of Professional StudiesPrivate	$60,771	16	$26,391	Good	$12,484	Manageable

#76Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN • Public

💰

$64,534Program Earnings

Cohort

$21,500

Student Debt

$12,362

Parent Debt

GPS Affordability(What's this?)

7.0% burden

11.7% burden

#77University Of Evansville

Evansville, IN • Private nonprofit

💰

$61,020Program Earnings

Cohort

$24,606

Student Debt

$26,848

Parent Debt

GPS Affordability(What's this?)

8.8% burden

19.8% burden

#78Indiana Institute Of Technology-College Of Professional Studies

Fort Wayne, IN • Private nonprofit

💰

$60,771Program Earnings

Cohort

$26,391

Student Debt

$12,484

Parent Debt

GPS Affordability(What's this?)

9.5% burden

14.6% burden

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Showing 76–78 of 78 schools

How These Rankings Work

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.

Methodology

• Data Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
• Metric: Median earnings 4 years after graduation for this specific field
• Ranking: Schools sorted by program earnings (highest to lowest)
• Minimum threshold: Only programs with 5+ graduates included

Important Caveats

• "Best" = highest earnings — not necessarily the best fit for every student
• Earnings reflect graduates from ~6-8 years ago; programs may have changed
• Programs with small cohorts (5-30 graduates) have higher variance
• Schools in high-cost areas may show higher earnings that reflect location, not program quality

Our Methodology →About Azimuth →

Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →