Compare 95 Mechanical Engineering. programs in the South. Average earnings: $78,667.
The highest-earning Mechanical Engineering program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $16K earnings gap across 96 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Duke University's Mechanical Engineering program leads with graduates earning $101,532, followed closely by Johns Hopkins at $99,498. But Lamar University at #3 with $93,563 proves regional publics compete—its 86% acceptance rate makes strong outcomes accessible to more students.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Johns Hopkins graduates borrow $10,250 and face just a 1.8% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families, Lamar leads with a 6.6% family burden including parent loans—proof that the best choice depends on who's paying.
Highest program earnings: $101,532
Strong outcomes with 85.7% acceptance
1.8% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
6.6% family burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Duke UniversityPrivate | $101,532 | 91 | $13,000 | Excellent | $27,998 | Excellent |
| #2 | Johns Hopkins UniversityPrivate | $99,498 | 40 | $10,250 | Excellent | $29,048 | Excellent |
| #3 | Lamar UniversityPublic | $93,563 | 64 | $21,250 | Excellent | $11,359 | Excellent |
| #4 | University Of MiamiPrivate | $93,219 | 40 | $17,500 | Excellent | $37,267 | Good |
| #5 | $92,171 | 163 | $20,500 | Excellent | $25,645 | Good | |
| #6 | $92,067 | 273 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,632 | Good | |
| #7 | $92,000 | 79 | $19,500 | Excellent | $40,025 | Manageable | |
| #8 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | $91,691 | 53 | $20,449 | Excellent | $30,881 | Good |
| #9 | $89,980 | 336 | $19,000 | Excellent | $35,200 | Manageable | |
| #10 | $89,645 | 18 | $29,251 | Excellent | $16,237 | Good | |
| #11 | Rice UniversityPrivate | $89,547 | 39 | $11,000 | Excellent | $35,338 | Good |
| #12 | Tuskegee UniversityPrivate | $89,443 | 41 | $27,000 | Excellent | $53,000 | Challenging |
| #13 | $88,618 | 55 | $17,750 | Excellent | $13,000 | Excellent | |
| #14 | $87,372 | 572 | $21,672 | Excellent | $32,216 | Manageable | |
| #15 | University Of HoustonPublic | $87,358 | 220 | $18,194 | Excellent | $18,072 | Good |
| #16 | $86,778 | 94 | $17,500 | Excellent | $28,903 | Good | |
| #17 | $86,449 | 192 | $22,142 | Excellent | $25,567 | Good | |
| #18 | $86,346 | 441 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Good | |
| #19 | $85,403 | 254 | $20,500 | Excellent | $38,513 | Manageable | |
| #20 | $85,281 | 407 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,325 | Manageable | |
| #21 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $84,813 | 49 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Good |
| #22 | $84,606 | 109 | $27,000 | Excellent | $29,276 | Manageable | |
| #23 | University Of DelawarePublic | $84,199 | 103 | $24,572 | Excellent | $43,000 | Manageable |
| #24 | West Virginia UniversityPublic | $83,975 | 170 | $22,500 | Excellent | $32,980 | Manageable |
| #25 | University Of FloridaPublic | $83,832 | 320 | $15,000 | Excellent | $18,837 | Good |
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 →
