# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/mechanical-engineering
- CIP code: 14.19 (Engineering)
- Colleges offering it: 395 at its most common degree level
- Value ranking: https://www.collegesref.com/best-colleges/mechanical-engineering

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

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Associate's | 51 | not reported | $71,115 | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 395 | $75,750 | $91,285 | $20,939 |
| Master's | 237 | $98,101 | $115,376 | $27,072 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 159 | $107,798 | $147,335 | not reported |
| First professional | 2 | $109,013 | $140,788 | $50,062 |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 37 | 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 |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit-1615) | Cambridge, MA | $131,967 | $15,000 |
| [California State University Maritime Academy](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-maritime-academy-363) | Vallejo, CA | $126,395 | $23,147 |
| [Santa Clara University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/santa-clara-university-2371) | Santa Clara, CA | $122,111 | $16,304 |
| [Duke University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duke-university-837) | Durham, NC | $120,991 | $13,250 |
| [University of California-Berkeley](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Berkeley, CA | $119,371 | $11,175 |
| [Stanford University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stanford-university-2589) | Stanford, CA | $117,072 | not reported |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | Princeton, NJ | $115,927 | not reported |
| [University of Pennsylvania](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Philadelphia, PA | $114,492 | not reported |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Ithaca, NY | $112,212 | $14,163 |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | New York, NY | $111,491 | $10,275 |

## 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
- [Aerospace Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aerospace-engineers): $134,960 median pay
- [Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/engineering-teachers-postsecondary): $109,270 median pay
- [Automotive Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/automotive-engineers): $104,110 median pay
- [Fuel Cell Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fuel-cell-engineers): $104,110 median pay
- [Mechanical Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mechanical-engineers): $104,110 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
- [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
- [Industrial Engineering](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/industrial-engineering): 128 colleges

## 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/