Mechanical Engineering: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Mechanical engineering is a dynamic and foundational discipline focused on the design, analysis, and optimization of physical systems that power modern industry and everyday life. It combines rigorous scientific principles with practical problem-solving to create efficient, sustainable, and innovative solutions across a broad spectrum of applications.
- Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer: Study of energy conversion processes and the movement of heat within systems, essential for designing efficient engines, HVAC systems, and industrial equipment.
- Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics: Exploration of fluid behavior under various conditions, enabling the development of systems like pumps, turbines, and hydraulic controls used in manufacturing and transportation.
- Mechanics of Materials: Analysis of how solid materials respond to forces, stresses, and deformations, critical for ensuring structural integrity in machine components and built systems.
- Motion and Control Systems: Design and evaluation of mechanisms and automated systems that regulate movement, including electric actuators, servos, and feedback-controlled devices.
- Manufacturing Processes and Systems: Application of engineering principles to the development and optimization of production methods, tooling, jigs, and assembly line technologies.
- Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Simulation: Use of advanced digital tools to model, test, and refine mechanical systems before physical prototyping, improving accuracy and reducing development time.
- Systems Integration and Automation: Implementation of embedded computing, remote monitoring, and control algorithms to enhance performance, safety, and adaptability in complex mechanical systems.
Mechanical Engineering Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Mechanical Engineering Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Mechanical Engineering degrees, including Architectural and Engineering Managers, Aerospace Engineers and Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 824,980 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers 11-9041 | $167,740 | $111,450 - $239,200 | 210,340 | $80.64 |
| Aerospace Engineers 17-2011 | $134,830 | $85,350 - $205,850 | 68,440 | $64.82 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1032 | $106,120 | $59,790 - $200,650 | 39,910 | N/A |
| Mechanical Engineers 17-2141 | $102,320 | $68,740 - $161,240 | 286,760 | $49.19 |
| Cost Estimators 13-1051 | $77,070 | $46,330 - $128,640 | 219,530 | $37.05 |
Mechanical Engineering Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $96,238 in Arkansas to $137,158 in California—a 43% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New Mexico, and District of Columbia. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 824,980 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Mechanical Engineering by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Mechanical Engineering programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Mechanical Engineering is found at Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (819 graduates), Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Main Campus (782 graduates), Texas A & M University, College Station (668 graduates), Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (508 graduates), and University of Michigan (U‑M), Ann Arbor (466 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 27,127 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
819 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
782 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gatech.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
668 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
508 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
466 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
450 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of California (UCB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
447 | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeley.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
447 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
428 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Residency
|
418 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
405 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
405 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
398 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
397 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
389 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| Colorado School of Mines |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
378 | Golden, Colorado | Public | mines.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
369 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
358 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
348 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
346 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
345 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
345 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
322 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
314 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
309 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
303 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| Michigan Technological University (MTU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
299 | Houghton, Michigan | Public | mtu.edu |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
297 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | wpi.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
293 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
286 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
285 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
285 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
284 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | web.mit.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
279 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
278 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
274 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| Cornell University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
272 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
272 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
269 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| Stevens Institute of Technology |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
264 | Hoboken, New Jersey | Private | stevens.edu |
| Stanford University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
261 | Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
259 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (CPP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
258 | Pomona, California | Public | cpp.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
250 | Lowell, Massachusetts | Public | uml.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
247 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
246 | Rolla, Missouri | Public | mst.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
244 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
242 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
238 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
235 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
234 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
233 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
230 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
230 | Richardson, Texas | Public | utdallas.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
230 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| University of Dayton (UD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
226 | Dayton, Ohio | Private | udayton.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
225 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
224 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
223 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
220 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
218 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
218 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | njit.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
216 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
210 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
210 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
209 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
206 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
206 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
203 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTEP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
199 | El Paso, Texas | Public | utep.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
197 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| Drexel University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
195 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
194 | Troy, New York | Private | rpi.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
190 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
190 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
189 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
|
187 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
184 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
183 | Mayaguez, Puerto Rico | Public | uprm.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
182 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
179 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Clarkson University (Clarkson) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
176 | Potsdam, New York | Private | clarkson.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
175 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
175 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
168 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| Kettering University |
Bachelor's
|
165 | Flint, Michigan | Private | kettering.edu |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
165 | Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
164 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
164 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
164 | Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
162 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville |
Bachelor's
|
162 | Platteville, Wisconsin | Public | uwplatt.edu |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
161 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
| Binghamton University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
161 | Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
| California State University (CSUF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
159 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullerton.edu |
| University of Akron |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
159 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
159 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Montana State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
157 | Bozeman, Montana | Public | montana.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
157 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
153 | Sacramento, California | Public | csus.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Mechanical Engineering programs
How much can I earn with a Mechanical Engineering degree?
Salaries for Mechanical Engineering graduates vary by role and location. Architectural and Engineering Managers earn a median of $167,740 annually, while Aerospace Engineers earn around $134,830. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $137,158 compared to $96,238 in Arkansas. Approximately 824,980 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Mechanical Engineering programs?
Currently 424 accredited institutions offer Mechanical Engineering degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (819 graduates), Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Main Campus (782 graduates), and Texas A & M University, College Station (668 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Mechanical Engineering growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 24,902 in 2010 to a peak of 47,603 in 2020, before declining slightly to 42,939 in 2023-24. This represents a 72% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Mechanical Engineering degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Architectural and Engineering Managers, Aerospace Engineers, and Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 824,980 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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