Manufacturing Engineering: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Manufacturing Engineering is a dynamic field focused on optimizing the creation of physical products through advanced technical systems and scientific innovation. It equips learners with the analytical and design skills needed to develop efficient, scalable, and sustainable manufacturing operations across industries.
- Materials Science and Engineering: Explores the structure, properties, and performance of materials used in production, enabling informed selection and enhancement of raw and processed substances.
- Manufacturing Processes: Covers core techniques such as casting, machining, forming, and additive manufacturing, emphasizing precision, efficiency, and material behavior under processing conditions.
- Process Engineering: Focuses on designing, analyzing, and improving production workflows to ensure consistency, quality control, and operational reliability.
- Assembly and Product Engineering: Integrates design principles with production realities to streamline product assembly, enhance functionality, and support lifecycle efficiency.
- Manufacturing Systems Design: Addresses the integration of machinery, automation, robotics, and data systems into cohesive, high-performance production environments.
- Manufacturing Competitiveness: Examines strategic approaches to cost control, supply chain integration, innovation management, and global market responsiveness to maintain industry leadership.
Manufacturing Engineering Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Manufacturing Engineering Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Manufacturing Engineering degrees, including Architectural and Engineering Managers, Engineers, All Other 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 970,760 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 |
| Engineers, All Other 17-2199 | $117,750 | $62,840 - $183,510 | 150,750 | $56.61 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1032 | $106,120 | $59,790 - $200,650 | 39,910 | N/A |
| Industrial Engineers 17-2112 | $101,140 | $70,000 - $157,140 | 350,230 | $48.63 |
| Cost Estimators 13-1051 | $77,070 | $46,330 - $128,640 | 219,530 | $37.05 |
Manufacturing Engineering Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $93,916 in Arkansas to $133,492 in California—a 42% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New Mexico, and District of Columbia. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 970,760 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 Manufacturing Engineering by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 67 institutions offering Manufacturing 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 Manufacturing Engineering is found at Oregon State University (OSU) (102 graduates), Brigham Young University (BYU) (44 graduates), Texas State University (TXST) (41 graduates), Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (32 graduates), and University of Wisconsin-Stout (31 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 900 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
102 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
44 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Bachelor's
|
41 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
32 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
31 | Menomonie, Wisconsin | Public | uwstout.edu |
| Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico |
Master's
|
30 | Hato Rey, Puerto Rico | Private | pupr.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Master's
|
30 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | worldcampus.psu.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (CPP) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Pomona, California | Public | cpp.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| Ferris State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Big Rapids, Michigan | Public | ferris.edu |
| University of St Thomas |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
27 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | stthomas.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Master's
|
25 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Bradley University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
24 | Peoria, Illinois | Private | bradley.edu |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
24 | Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Master's
|
24 | Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
21 | Savannah, Georgia | Private | scad.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Master's
|
16 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| Colorado School of Mines |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
15 | Golden, Colorado | Public | mines.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| University of Michigan |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | umdearborn.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
14 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| University of North Alabama (UNA) |
Master's
|
13 | Florence, Alabama | Public | una.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| National University (NU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | San Diego, California | Private | nu.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
|
11 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Dunwoody College of Technology (DCT) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | dunwoody.edu |
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) |
Master's
|
9 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gatech.edu |
| Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) |
Master's
|
9 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | iit.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Public | stcloudstate.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
8 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Rowan University |
Other Award
|
8 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| Central State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Wilberforce, Ohio | Public | centralstate.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Master's
|
7 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
7 | Rolla, Missouri | Public | mst.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTSA) |
Master's
|
7 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | utsa.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
6 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | Troy, New York | Private | rpi.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) |
Master's
|
5 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | wpi.edu |
| Michigan Technological University (MTU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
5 | Houghton, Michigan | Public | mtu.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Master's
|
5 | Erie, Pennsylvania | Public | behrend.psu.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Master's
|
5 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Master's
|
5 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Macomb Community College |
Associate's
|
4 | Warren, Michigan | Public | macomb.edu |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) |
Master's
|
4 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | njit.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| Robert Morris University (RMU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Moon Township, Pennsylvania | Private | rmu.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Master's
|
3 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTEP) |
Master's
|
3 | El Paso, Texas | Public | utep.edu |
| Virginia State University (VSU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Petersburg, Virginia | Public | vsu.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Master's
|
2 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| University of North Florida (UNF) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | unf.edu |
| University of Southern Indiana (USI) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Evansville, Indiana | Public | usi.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Master's
|
2 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| Cuyahoga Valley Career Center (CVCC) |
Residency
|
2 | Brecksville, Ohio | Public | cvccworks.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Master's
|
1 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Master's
|
1 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| Mercer County Community College (MCCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | West Windsor, New Jersey | Public | mccc.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Master's
|
1 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| Clark State College |
Other Award
|
1 | Springfield, Ohio | Public | clarkstate.edu |
| Wright State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | wright.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Manufacturing Engineering programs
How much can I earn with a Manufacturing Engineering degree?
Salaries for Manufacturing Engineering graduates vary by role and location. Architectural and Engineering Managers earn a median of $167,740 annually, while Engineers, All Other earn around $117,750. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $133,492 compared to $93,916 in Arkansas. Approximately 970,760 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 Manufacturing Engineering programs?
Currently 67 accredited institutions offer Manufacturing Engineering degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Oregon State University (OSU) (102 graduates), Brigham Young University (BYU) (44 graduates), and Texas State University (TXST) (41 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 Manufacturing Engineering growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 704 in 2010 to a peak of 966 in 2020, before declining slightly to 900 in 2023-24. This represents a 28% 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 Manufacturing Engineering degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Architectural and Engineering Managers, Engineers, All Other, and Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 970,760 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.
Related Engineering Programs
Explore similar degree programs within the Engineering field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.
Agricultural Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems, equipment and facilities...
Architectural Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of materials, systems, and methods...
Biomedical Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of biomedical and health systems...
Ceramic Sciences and Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of inorganic non-metallic materials, such...
Chemical Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems employing chemical processes,...
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems at the interface...