Bright outlook
Management
Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Median pay
- $171,270
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
Mechanical Engineering
CIP14.19
395 colleges offer Mechanical Engineering. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 395
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $91,285
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $20,939
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 12
- Associate's
- 51
- Bachelor's
- 395
- Master's
- 237
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 6
- Doctoral
- 159
- First professional
- 2
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 37
What it covers
About Mechanical Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of physical systems used in manufacturing and end-product systems used for specific uses, including machine tools, jigs and other manufacturing equipment; stationary power units and appliances; engines; self-propelled vehicles; housings and containers; hydraulic and electric systems for controlling movement; and the integration of computers and remote control with operating systems.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 14.19.
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 12 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Associate's | 51 | $71,1154 yrs after · 5 colleges | Not reported |
| Bachelor's | 395 | $91,2854 yrs after · 304 colleges | $20,939304 colleges |
| Master's | 237 | $115,3764 yrs after · 81 colleges | $27,07220 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 6 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 159 | $147,3354 yrs after · 3 colleges | Not reported |
| First professional | 2 | $140,7884 yrs after · 1 college | $50,0621 college |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 37 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Mechanical Engineering graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · 106 graduates
$131,967
debt $15,000
- 2
California State University Maritime Academy
Vallejo, CA · Public · 43 graduates
$126,395
debt $23,147
- 3
Santa Clara, CA · Private nonprofit · 39 graduates
$122,111
debt $16,304
- 4
Durham, NC · Private nonprofit · 75 graduates
$120,991
debt $13,250
- 5
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public · 213 graduates
$119,371
debt $11,175
- 6
Stanford, CA · Private nonprofit · 56 graduates
$117,072
debt not reported
- 7
Princeton, NJ · Private nonprofit · 37 graduates
$115,927
debt not reported
- 8
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · 65 graduates
$114,492
debt not reported
- 9
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit · 152 graduates
$112,212
debt $14,163
- 10
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 81 graduates
$111,491
debt $10,275
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Mechanical Engineering by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Median pay
- $171,270
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Bright outlook
Architecture and engineering
Aerospace Engineers
- Median pay
- $134,960
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Complex Problem Solving
- Bright outlook
Education
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $109,270
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Instructing
- Learning Strategies
- Speaking
- Bright outlook
Architecture and engineering
Automotive Engineers
- Median pay
- $104,110
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Bright outlook
Architecture and engineering
Fuel Cell Engineers
- Median pay
- $104,110
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Science
- Bright outlook
Architecture and engineering
Mechanical Engineers
- Median pay
- $104,110
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
Business and finance
Cost Estimators
- Median pay
- $78,740
- Outlook
- Decline
Bachelor's degree
- Mathematics
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
More in Engineering
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this area- Engineering, General452 colleges
- Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering387 colleges
- Computer Engineering367 colleges
- Civil Engineering300 colleges
- Biomedical/Medical Engineering200 colleges
- Chemical Engineering182 colleges
- Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering130 colleges
- Industrial Engineering128 colleges
Questions about Mechanical Engineering
How many colleges offer Mechanical Engineering?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Mechanical Engineering at these degree levels: certificate (12 colleges), associate's (51 colleges), bachelor's (395 colleges), master's (237 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (6 colleges), doctoral (159 colleges), first professional (2 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (37 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Mechanical Engineering graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Mechanical Engineering earn $91,285 a year four years after finishing, across 304 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Mechanical Engineering graduates earn the most?
Massachusetts Institute of Technology reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Mechanical Engineering: $131,967 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.