# Manufacturing Engineering

> A program that prepares individuals to apply scientific and mathematical principles to the design, development, and implementation of manufacturing systems. Includes instruction in materials science and engineering, manufacturing processes, process engineering, assembly and product engineering, manufacturing systems design, and manufacturing competitiveness.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/manufacturing-engineering
- CIP code: 14.36 (Engineering)
- Colleges offering it: 43 at its most common degree level
- Value ranking: https://www.collegesref.com/best-colleges/engineering

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 15 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Associate's | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 38 | $76,612 | $88,842 | $21,580 |
| Master's | 43 | $94,160 | $129,151 | not reported |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 15 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Northwestern University-Illinois](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northwestern-university-illinois-1966) | Evanston, IL | $97,819 | not reported |
| [National University-California](https://www.collegesref.com/college/national-university-california-1825) | La Jolla, CA | $97,525 | not reported |
| [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona-362) | Pomona, CA | $93,042 | $15,000 |
| [Brigham Young University-Provo](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brigham-young-university-provo-byu-utah-302) | Provo, UT | $92,122 | $7,500 |
| [Dunwoody College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dunwoody-college-of-technology-838) | Minneapolis, MN | $90,176 | not reported |
| [Texas State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-state-university-2709) | San Marcos, TX | $88,995 | $23,973 |
| [Bradley University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/bradley-university-291) | Peoria, IL | $88,690 | $27,000 |
| [University of Wisconsin-Stout](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-wisconsin-stout-3091) | Menomonie, WI | $87,431 | $24,472 |
| [Arizona State University Campus Immersion](https://www.collegesref.com/college/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion-101) | Tempe, AZ | $85,911 | not reported |
| [Oregon State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/oregon-state-university-2035) | Corvallis, OR | $85,369 | $19,823 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Architectural and Engineering Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/architectural-and-engineering-managers): $171,270 median pay
- [Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biofuels-biodiesel-technology-and-product-development-managers): $171,270 median pay
- [Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/energy-engineers-except-wind-and-solar): $122,930 median pay
- [Engineers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/engineers-all-other): $122,930 median pay
- [Mechatronics Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mechatronics-engineers): $122,930 median pay
- [Microsystems Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/microsystems-engineers): $122,930 median pay
- [Nanosystems Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/nanosystems-engineers): $122,930 median pay
- [Photonics Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/photonics-engineers): $122,930 median pay
- [Robotics Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/robotics-engineers): $122,930 median pay
- [Solar Energy Systems Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/solar-energy-systems-engineers): $122,930 median pay
- [Wind Energy Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-engineers): $122,930 median pay
- [Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/engineering-teachers-postsecondary): $109,270 median pay
- [Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/human-factors-engineers-and-ergonomists): $102,440 median pay
- [Industrial Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-engineers): $102,440 median pay
- [Manufacturing Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/manufacturing-engineers): $102,440 median pay
- [Validation Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/validation-engineers): $102,440 median pay
- [Cost Estimators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cost-estimators): $78,740 median pay

## More in Engineering

- [Engineering, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/engineering-general): 452 colleges
- [Mechanical Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/mechanical-engineering): 395 colleges
- [Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/electrical-electronics-and-communications-engineering): 387 colleges
- [Computer Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/computer-engineering): 367 colleges
- [Civil Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/civil-engineering): 300 colleges
- [Biomedical/Medical Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/biomedical-medical-engineering): 200 colleges
- [Chemical Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/chemical-engineering): 182 colleges
- [Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/environmental-environmental-health-engineering): 130 colleges

## Guides on this field

- [How to Compare Colleges by Major: Engineering, STEM, Pre-Med, and Business](https://www.collegesref.com/blog/how-to-compare-colleges-by-major)

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/