Compare 65 Mechanical Engineering. programs in the Northeast. Average earnings: $81,936.
Mechanical Engineering programs in the Northeast produce graduates earning between $85,242 and $99,578—a $14K spread that demonstrates program quality varies independently of school prestige. Across 65 ranked programs, outcomes depend on program-level factors, not institutional reputation.
SUNY Maritime College leads with Mechanical Engineering graduates earning $99,578, followed closely by MIT at $98,644. The regional public outperforms most prestigious institutions while maintaining a 79% acceptance rate—proof that accessible programs can deliver exceptional outcomes when evaluated on their merits.
High earnings tell only part of the story—debt burden reveals the real picture. SUNY Maritime graduates face just a 4.1% payment burden with 'Excellent' affordability, while Princeton delivers a 2.3% student burden. Franklin W Olin College leads family affordability with a 3.6% combined burden, showing smart choices exist at every price point.
| 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 | $98,644 | 147 | $14,768 | Excellent | $42,501 | Good | |
| #3 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | $97,151 | 130 | $21,750 | Excellent | $37,130 | Good |
| #4 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $97,093 | 156 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Good |
| #5 | $96,456 | 36 | $19,500 | Excellent | $0 | Excellent | |
| #6 | $92,781 | 50 | $23,334 | Excellent | $39,731 | Manageable | |
| #7 | Villanova UniversityPrivate | $91,256 | 70 | $25,874 | Excellent | $40,000 | Manageable |
| #8 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | $91,235 | 250 | $24,250 | Excellent | $34,984 | Manageable |
| #9 | Syracuse UniversityPrivate | $90,527 | 83 | $26,000 | Excellent | $39,841 | Manageable |
| #10 | Lehigh UniversityPrivate | $88,912 | 101 | $21,960 | Excellent | $42,245 | Manageable |
| #11 | $88,498 | 68 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Manageable | |
| #12 | $88,283 | 141 | $27,000 | Excellent | $53,192 | Challenging | |
| #13 | $88,173 | 199 | $23,704 | Excellent | $18,400 | Good | |
| #14 | Stony Brook UniversityPublic | $87,654 | 135 | $18,228 | Excellent | $21,400 | Good |
| #15 | Bucknell UniversityPrivate | $87,329 | 41 | $27,000 | Excellent | $62,750 | Challenging |
| #16 | $86,680 | 113 | $25,028 | Excellent | $65,597 | Challenging | |
| #17 | Fairfield UniversityPrivate | $85,931 | 30 | $26,000 | Excellent | $50,500 | Challenging |
| #18 | $85,357 | 189 | $22,763 | Excellent | $26,243 | Good | |
| #19 | Princeton UniversityPrivate | $85,328 | 52 | $10,320 | Excellent | $41,000 | Manageable |
| #20 | Union CollegePrivate | $85,242 | 45 | $25,337 | Excellent | $57,000 | Challenging |
| #21 | Drexel UniversityPrivate | $85,140 | 189 | $25,325 | Excellent | $40,932 | Manageable |
| #22 | Cuny City CollegePublic | $84,427 | 125 | $11,990 | Excellent | $17,460 | Excellent |
| #23 | Boston UniversityPrivate | $84,331 | 160 | $23,250 | Excellent | $39,000 | Manageable |
| #24 | $84,202 | 203 | $21,500 | Excellent | $25,294 | Good | |
| #25 | $84,101 | 233 | $23,750 | Excellent | $52,241 | 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 →
