Compare 302 Mechanical Engineering. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $91,434. Top programs: $131,967+.
Mechanical Engineering programs produce graduates earning between $48,585 and $131,967—an $83K spread that demonstrates why program selection matters independently of school prestige. Across 302 ranked programs nationally, outcomes vary based on program quality, not institutional reputation. The school name on your diploma matters far less than which program you chose.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads with Mechanical Engineering graduates earning $131,967—well above the $91,434 national average. But the more revealing story is #2: California State University Maritime Academy, a public school accepting 95% of applicants, produces graduates earning $126,395. That's within $6K of MIT. Program outcomes and admissions selectivity aren't the same thing.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Princeton University's Mechanical Engineering graduates borrow just $10,320 in student loans and face a 1.5% payment burden, landing firmly in the 'Excellent' category. For families weighing parent loans too, Duke University leads with a 6.3% combined family burden—also 'Excellent'—on $120,991 in graduate earnings. [Learn how to evaluate programs beyond school prestige →](https://collegeazimuth.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-programs)
Highest program earnings: $131,967
Strong outcomes ($126,395) with 95% acceptance
1.5% payment burden | Excellent
6.3% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $131,967 | 142 | $14,768 | Excellent | $42,501 | Excellent | |
| #2 | $126,395 | 42 | $24,965 | Excellent | $38,432 | Good | |
| #3 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | $122,111 | 52 | $19,162 | Excellent | $56,271 | Good |
| #4 | Duke UniversityPrivate | $120,991 | 79 | $13,000 | Excellent | $27,998 | Excellent |
| #5 | $119,371 | 189 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Excellent | |
| #6 | Stanford UniversityPrivate | $117,072 | 49 | $12,000 | Excellent | $38,333 | Good |
| #7 | Princeton UniversityPrivate | $115,927 | 53 | $10,320 | Excellent | $41,000 | Good |
| #8 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | $114,492 | 43 | $15,715 | Excellent | $33,124 | Good |
| #9 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $112,212 | 132 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Good |
| #10 | $111,491 | 61 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Good | |
| #11 | Johns Hopkins UniversityPrivate | $110,210 | 51 | $10,250 | Excellent | $29,048 | Excellent |
| #12 | Rice UniversityPrivate | $108,970 | 60 | $11,000 | Excellent | $35,338 | Good |
| #13 | $108,875 | 162 | $14,000 | Excellent | $26,176 | Excellent | |
| #14 | Suny Maritime CollegePublic | $106,932 | 82 | $23,250 | Excellent | $38,700 | Good |
| #15 | $106,750 | 272 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Good | |
| #16 | $105,888 | 275 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Good | |
| #17 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | $105,623 | 113 | $21,750 | Excellent | $37,130 | Good |
| #18 | $105,046 | 47 | $26,063 | Excellent | $31,387 | Good | |
| #19 | University Of Detroit MercyPrivate | $104,683 | 19 | $23,250 | Excellent | $22,484 | Good |
| #20 | $104,649 | 119 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Good | |
| #21 | $104,523 | 266 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,632 | Good | |
| #22 | $104,336 | 78 | $13,993 | Excellent | $26,465 | Excellent | |
| #23 | $104,229 | 146 | $15,500 | Excellent | $24,257 | Excellent | |
| #24 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | $103,384 | 275 | $24,250 | Excellent | $34,984 | Good |
| #25 | $102,572 | 430 | $19,500 | Excellent | $29,448 | 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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
