Best Mechanical Engineering Programs in the Northeast (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Engineering Colleges in the Northeast
Regional list from Mechanical Engineering Programs in the United States
This page ranks the 66 Mechanical Engineering programs in the Northeast by the median earnings of Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads the list with median earnings of $131,967 four years after completing, followed by Princeton University at $115,927 and University of Pennsylvania at $114,492.
Across the listed schools, the median figure is $91,642, with a range from $131,967 to $53,358.
The list includes 24 public and 42 private nonprofit institutions. CUNY City College posts the lowest average net price at $3,776. Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranks 30th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Cambridge, MA | $131,967 | $20,111 | -$2,533* | 4.6% |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology reports $131,967 in median earnings for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 142 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 2 | Princeton University · Princeton, NJ | $115,927 | $6,128 | $41 | 4.6% |
| Princeton University ranks 2nd on this list and posts an average net price of $6,128. | |||||
| 3 | University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia, PA | $114,492 | $28,699 | -$3,012* | 5.4% |
| University of Pennsylvania reports median federal debt of $12,910 among Mechanical Engineering completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $114,492 four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | Cornell University · Ithaca, NY | $112,212 | $28,690 | $1,776 | 8.8% |
| Cornell University admits 9% of applicants and ranks 47th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 5 | Columbia University in the City of New York · New York, NY | $111,491 | $21,590 | $4,570 | 4.0% |
| Columbia University in the City of New York reports median earnings of $111,491 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, with an admission rate of 4%. | |||||
| 6 | SUNY Maritime College · Throggs Neck, NY | $106,932 | $22,367 | $11,726 | 72.4% |
| A public university in Throggs Neck, SUNY Maritime College ranks 6th on this list and reports an average net price of $11,726 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 7 | Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA | $105,623 | $31,944 | $9,097 | 11.7% |
| Carnegie Mellon University shows median federal debt of $22,777 among Mechanical Engineering completers who borrowed, with median earnings of $105,623 four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | Northeastern University · Boston, MA | $103,384 | $30,915 | $2,264 | 5.2% |
| Northeastern University reports 275 graduates in the earnings cohort and an average net price of $2,264 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 9 | Lafayette College · Easton, PA | $101,348 | $34,433 | $12,716 | 31.5% |
| Lafayette College ranks 9th on this list, with median earnings of $101,348 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 10 | Tufts University · Medford, MA | $101,196 | $39,998 | $11,284 | 11.5% |
| Tufts University admits 11% of applicants and reports median federal debt of $16,250 among Mechanical Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 11 | Stevens Institute of Technology · Hoboken, NJ | $100,554 | $41,346 | $27,221 | 47.6% |
| Stevens Institute of Technology posts median earnings of $100,554 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $41,346. | |||||
| 12 | Bucknell University · Lewisburg, PA | $99,860 | $40,766 | $20,980 | 28.9% |
| Bucknell University ranks 395th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports 26 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 13 | Villanova University · Villanova, PA | $97,556 | $43,756 | $17,823 | 27.0% |
| Villanova University reports median earnings of $97,556 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 27%. | |||||
| 14 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute · Worcester, MA | $97,308 | $43,071 | $24,018 | 60.2% |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute shows median federal debt of $27,000 among Mechanical Engineering completers who borrowed, and the program's earnings cohort numbered 274 graduates. | |||||
| 15 | CUNY City College · New York, NY | $97,270 | $3,776 | $1,251 | 60.0% |
| A public university in New York, CUNY City College carries an average net price of $3,776 and ranks 48th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 16 | Wentworth Institute of Technology · Boston, MA | $97,124 | $34,170 | $27,018 | 91.2% |
| Wentworth Institute of Technology ranks 16th on this list, with median earnings of $97,124 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 17 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst · Amherst, MA | $96,999 | $22,383 | $10,164 | 59.7% |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst posts an average net price of $22,383 and an admission rate of 60%, with 147 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 18 | Lehigh University · Bethlehem, PA | $96,618 | $36,931 | $16,917 | 25.9% |
| Lehigh University shows median federal debt of $24,950 among Mechanical Engineering completers who borrowed, and its graduates four years after completing earned a median of $96,618. | |||||
| 19 | Boston University · Boston, MA | $95,757 | $24,402 | $9,500 | 11.1% |
| With an admission rate of 11%, Boston University reports median earnings of $95,757 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 20 | University of Rochester · Rochester, NY | $95,060 | $29,278 | $9,678 | 40.1% |
| University of Rochester ranks 318th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing earned a median of $95,060. | |||||
| 21 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell · Lowell, MA | $94,841 | $17,163 | $9,943 | 83.0% |
| At University of Massachusetts-Lowell, median earnings of $94,841 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing sit alongside an average net price of $17,163. | |||||
| 22 | Hofstra University · Hempstead, NY | $94,744 | $34,176 | $28,219 | 68.1% |
| Hofstra University shows median federal debt of $20,447 among Mechanical Engineering completers who borrowed, alongside an admission rate of 68%. | |||||
| 23 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick · New Brunswick, NJ | $94,561 | $24,406 | $16,343 | 58.2% |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranks 30th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing earned a median of $94,561. | |||||
| 24 | Central Connecticut State University · New Britain, CT | $94,462 | $16,857 | $13,589 | 73.3% |
| Central Connecticut State University reports median earnings of $94,462 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $16,857. | |||||
| 25 | Roger Williams University · Bristol, RI | $94,385 | $37,999 | $29,778 | 87.7% |
| Roger Williams University reports median earnings of $94,385 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $29,778 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 26 | Drexel University · Philadelphia, PA | $93,638 | $38,509 | $28,055 | 79.4% |
| Drexel University admits 79% of applicants and its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing earn a median of $93,638. | |||||
| 27 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH | $93,622 | $23,805 | $16,523 | 88.2% |
| A public university in Durham, University of New Hampshire-Main Campus ranks 27th on this list and posts a median of $93,622 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 28 | Western New England University · Springfield, MA | $93,541 | $27,290 | $20,726 | 83.5% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left Western New England University with a median of $25,500 in federal loans, while its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing earn a median of $93,541. | |||||
| 29 | Rochester Institute of Technology · Rochester, NY | $93,065 | $34,906 | $24,680 | 66.9% |
| Rochester Institute of Technology reports median federal debt of $27,000 among Mechanical Engineering completers who borrowed, and its graduates four years after completing earn a median of $93,065. | |||||
| 30 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · Troy, NY | $92,952 | $36,228 | $24,078 | 63.5% |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranks 392nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $92,952 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 31 | Manhattan University · Riverdale, NY | $92,802 | $27,256 | $27,281 | 78.9% |
| With an admission rate of 79%, Manhattan University reports median earnings of $92,802 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 32 | New York University · New York, NY | $91,821 | $37,050 | $16,977 | 9.2% |
| New York University reports an average net price of $16,977 for families earning under $30,000, and its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing earn a median of $91,821. | |||||
| 33 | Stony Brook University · Stony Brook, NY | $91,650 | $18,784 | $12,943 | 49.0% |
| Stony Brook University reports median earnings of $91,650 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $12,943 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 34 | Fairfield University · Fairfield, CT | $91,633 | $48,095 | $33,302 | 33.3% |
| Fairfield University ranks 34th on this list, with median earnings of $91,633 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 33%. | |||||
| 35 | Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY | $91,438 | $38,793 | $15,817 | 45.9% |
| Syracuse University reports an average net price of $15,817 for families earning under $30,000, and its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing earn a median of $91,438. | |||||
| 36 | Temple University · Philadelphia, PA | $91,131 | $28,198 | $22,694 | 80.4% |
| Temple University ranks 125th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $91,131 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 37 | The College of New Jersey · Ewing, NJ | $91,052 | $27,646 | $7,908 | 62.3% |
| The College of New Jersey reports median earnings of $91,052 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $7,908 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 38 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · Pittsburgh, PA | $90,768 | $30,434 | $14,709 | 58.1% |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus admits 58% of applicants and its Mechanical Engineering completers who borrowed left with a median federal debt of $25,190. | |||||
| 39 | Clarkson University · Potsdam, NY | $90,286 | $30,305 | $21,335 | 77.4% |
| A private nonprofit university in Potsdam, Clarkson University ranks 654th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 40 | University of Connecticut · Storrs, CT | $90,261 | $25,097 | $15,193 | 52.4% |
| University of Connecticut ranks 40th on this list, with median earnings of $90,261 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 41 | Rowan University · Glassboro, NJ | $90,084 | $22,408 | $15,305 | 77.7% |
| Rowan University shows an average net price of $22,408 and a median federal debt of $22,500 among Mechanical Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 42 | York College of Pennsylvania · York, PA | $89,995 | $18,556 | $12,927 | 73.7% |
| York College of Pennsylvania reports median earnings of $89,995 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 44 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 43 | New York Institute of Technology · Old Westbury, NY | $89,966 | $22,443 | $17,084 | 81.0% |
| New York Institute of Technology admits 81% of applicants and its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing earn a median of $89,966. | |||||
| 44 | University of Rhode Island · Kingston, RI | $89,901 | $21,440 | $14,368 | 72.2% |
| University of Rhode Island ranks 280th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with an average net price of $14,368 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 45 | New Jersey Institute of Technology · Newark, NJ | $89,827 | $16,504 | $10,138 | 65.1% |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology reports median earnings of $89,827 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, and its completers who borrowed left with a median federal debt of $20,000. | |||||
| 46 | Quinnipiac University · Hamden, CT | $89,732 | $40,675 | $33,649 | 72.2% |
| Quinnipiac University ranks 46th on this list, with an average net price of $40,675 and a cohort of 27 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 47 | Binghamton University · Vestal, NY | $89,650 | $21,620 | $12,171 | 38.6% |
| Binghamton University admits 39% of applicants and its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing earn a median of $89,650. | |||||
| 48 | State University of New York at New Paltz · New Paltz, NY | $89,504 | $18,809 | $10,541 | 61.6% |
| State University of New York at New Paltz shows an average net price of $10,541 for families earning under $30,000, alongside a median federal debt of $18,750 among Mechanical Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 49 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth · North Dartmouth, MA | $89,310 | $20,927 | $15,976 | 90.6% |
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth reports median earnings of $89,310 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 46 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 50 | University of New Haven · West Haven, CT | $89,099 | $34,192 | $27,837 | 60.4% |
| An admission rate of 60% and a median federal debt of $27,000 among Mechanical Engineering completers who borrowed mark University of New Haven. | |||||
| 51 | University of Hartford · West Hartford, CT | $88,530 | $30,282 | $25,925 | 95.8% |
| University of Hartford ranks 51st on this list and posts an average net price of $30,282. | |||||
| 52 | University of Southern Maine · Portland, ME | $88,515 | $13,596 | $9,999 | 79.2% |
| Median earnings of $88,515 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing coincide with an average net price of $9,999 for families earning under $30,000 at University of Southern Maine. | |||||
| 53 | Widener University · Chester, PA | $88,358 | $25,759 | $21,200 | 70.9% |
| Widener University sits 537th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports a 30-graduate earnings cohort for Mechanical Engineering. | |||||
| 54 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus · University Park, PA | $87,997 | $32,875 | $19,845 | 60.6% |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus shows median earnings of $87,997 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, drawn from a cohort of 311. | |||||
| 55 | SUNY Polytechnic Institute · Utica, NY | $87,788 | $14,164 | $7,442 | 81.4% |
| SUNY Polytechnic Institute posts an average net price of $7,442 for families earning under $30,000 and a median federal debt of $24,000 among Mechanical Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 56 | Merrimack College · North Andover, MA | $85,545 | $37,927 | $31,710 | 70.0% |
| Merrimack College ranks 56th on this list, with median earnings of $85,545 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 57 | Union College · Schenectady, NY | $85,427 | $34,561 | $11,776 | 43.9% |
| An admission rate of 44% and median earnings of $85,427 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing characterize Union College. | |||||
| 58 | University of Maine · Orono, ME | $85,064 | $17,510 | $12,642 | 96.6% |
| University of Maine reports a median federal debt of $26,073 among Mechanical Engineering completers who borrowed, alongside an average net price of $17,510. | |||||
| 59 | University at Buffalo · Buffalo, NY | $84,602 | $20,995 | $14,668 | 74.2% |
| Median earnings of $84,602 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing and an Azimuth composite rank of 103rd among nonprofit four-year institutions are reported by University at Buffalo. | |||||
| 60 | University of Vermont · Burlington, VT | $83,438 | $19,343 | $11,127 | 65.3% |
| An average net price of $11,127 for families earning under $30,000 and an 88-graduate earnings cohort for Mechanical Engineering are reported by University of Vermont. | |||||
| 61 | Gannon University · Erie, PA | $82,856 | $22,553 | $18,489 | 74.2% |
| Gannon University reports median earnings of $82,856 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 24 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 62 | Norwich University · Northfield, VT | $82,477 | $22,257 | $15,610 | 74.4% |
| Norwich University admits 74% of applicants and reports a median federal debt of $21,500 among Mechanical Engineering completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 63 | Alfred University · Alfred, NY | $79,452 | $25,620 | $16,512 | 73.8% |
| Alfred University ranks 63rd on this list and shows an average net price of $25,620. | |||||
| 64 | Wilkes University · Wilkes-Barre, PA | $79,326 | $27,743 | $25,062 | 90.6% |
| Wilkes University posts a median of $79,326 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $25,062 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 65 | Franklin W Olin College of Engineering · Needham, MA | $78,343 | $25,171 | Not reported | 25.2% |
| Franklin W Olin College of Engineering sits 65th on this page and holds a rank of 202nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 66 | Thomas Jefferson University · Philadelphia, PA | $53,358 | $28,928 | $22,537 | 81.0% |
| Thomas Jefferson University reports median earnings of $53,358 for its Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 5. | |||||
* Net price can be negative: when grants and scholarships exceed the listed cost of attendance, students can receive the difference as a refund for other expenses.
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Mechanical Engineering graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the Northeast appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after they finished. For 2 of the 66 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost of attendance, or differences in who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 66 schools with a published figure. Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads Princeton University by $16,040, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $78,609.
Job market context in the Northeast
Mechanical Engineering graduates in the Northeast enter occupations such as Mechanical Engineers, Cost Estimators, and related technical roles. Across those occupations the median annual wage is $95,299, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $76,048. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 2.5% higher, with about 117 openings a year for every hundred graduates, openings and graduates roughly in balance. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses graduate earnings four years after completing, not the occupation-wide wage figures described here.
Related rankings
- Mechanical Engineering Programs in the United States
- Best Colleges in the Northeast
- Best Mechanical Engineering Programs in the Midwest
- Best Mechanical Engineering Programs in the South
- Best Mechanical Engineering Programs in the West
- Best Engineering Colleges in the Northeast
- Engineering Colleges in the Northeast for Social Mobility