25 Top Mechanical Engineering Schools

Key Infor­ma­tion:

• Stan­ford Uni­ver­si­ty has the #1 best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing bach­e­lor’s degree.
• Bach­e­lor’s in mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing offer a range of spe­cial­iza­tions cater­ing to dif­fer­ent indus­tri­al needs, from tra­di­tion­al mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing to emerg­ing tech­nolo­gies.
• Grad­u­ates are pre­pared for diverse roles in engi­neer­ing, design, and research across var­i­ous industries.
• Mechan­i­cal engi­neers have high- earn­ing poten­tial espe­cial­ly in man­age­ment roles.

You should get a mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing bach­e­lor degree if you find that you enjoy learn­ing how things work and what goes into their con­struc­tion. Some might think that get­ting a bach­e­lor’s degree in mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing is becom­ing a glo­ri­fied mechan­ic, but the fact is, a mechan­i­cal engi­neer can put their degree to use in a num­ber of indus­tri­al fields.

Earn­ing a mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing bach­e­lor degree involves the study of:

• types of physics that are used in engineering
• math­e­mat­ics such as cal­cu­lus and algebra
• under­stand­ing the basics of electricity
• mate­ri­als used for manufacturing

A mechan­i­cal engi­neer bach­e­lor’s degree pro­vides you with foun­da­tion­al knowl­edge that helps you tack­le the chal­lenges that come with indus­tri­al design.

A bach­e­lor degree for mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing is a great career for stu­dents who have an apti­tude for the low­er lev­els of chem­istry, math, and physics, but pre­fer to use their hands along with their minds. The mechan­i­cal engi­neer can find them­selves work­ing in a fac­to­ry where they have to keep a pro­duc­tion line func­tion­ing prop­er­ly, or they may be need­ed to help design and build tools when an off-the-shelf solu­tion isn’t avail­able. The mechan­i­cal engi­neer bach­e­lor degree pro­gram teach­es you how to apply your edu­ca­tion, ana­lyt­i­cal think­ing skills, and your own prob­lem-solv­ing apti­tude to make some­thing that’s func­tion­al, usable, and results in a process that works as intended.

Relat­ed Rankings:

• Best Online Bach­e­lor’s in Mechan­i­cal Engineering
• Best Engi­neer­ing Man­age­ment Bach­e­lor Degree Online
• Most Afford­able Bach­e­lor’s in Mechan­i­cal Engineering

Methodology: Ranking the Best ME Degrees

For the Bachelor’s Degree Cen­ter rank­ing of the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing bachelor’s degree pro­grams, BDC edi­tors ranked accred­it­ed, rep­utable schools with proven suc­cess. Pro­grams are ranked by cost, grad­u­ate salary, and stu­dent sat­is­fac­tion, using data from IPEDS and Niche.

1. Stanford University

Stan­ford University’s Mechan­i­cal Engi­neer­ing Pro­gram is one of the top pro­grams in the coun­try and it is con­sis­tent­ly ranked as one of the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees in the world. Stan­ford’s mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing pro­gram trains stu­dents with a strong foun­da­tion in math­e­mat­ics as well as many oth­er tech­ni­cal skills. Stu­dents will also have the oppor­tu­ni­ty to take class­es in areas such as:

• mate­ri­als science
• heat trans­fer
• exper­i­men­tal design
• ther­mo­dy­nam­ics

Stan­ford Uni­ver­si­ty is a pri­vate research uni­ver­si­ty in Stan­ford, Cal­i­for­nia. Stan­ford is one of the most pres­ti­gious uni­ver­si­ties in the world. The school has been ranked first among uni­ver­si­ties in the U.S. News and World Report rank­ings for more than 20 years, and it is also ranked as one of the best uni­ver­si­ties in the world by var­i­ous oth­er rank­ings sys­tems. Stan­ford grad­u­ates have gone on to found com­pa­nies such as Google, Nike, Yahoo!, YouTube, Insta­gram etc., which has led some com­men­ta­tors to argue that “Stan­ford Uni­ver­si­ty grad­u­ates have cre­at­ed more wealth than any oth­er university”.

What We Like: Stan­ford Uni­ver­si­ty is one of the top 10 uni­ver­si­ties in the Unit­ed States.

Degree: BS in Mechan­i­cal Engineering

Inter­est­ed? Vis­it the Pro­gram Site!

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The Mass­a­chu­setts Insti­tute of Tech­nol­o­gy, in Cam­bridge, MA, has a great mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing pro­gram. For those who are look­ing for the best edu­ca­tion, MIT is one of the best uni­ver­si­ties for engi­neer­ing. The pro­gram has an excep­tion­al record in pro­duc­ing great engi­neers. That’s just one rea­son why experts rank this pro­gram among the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees. Stu­dents in this pro­gram study top­ics like:

• mate­ri­als science
• ener­gy conversion
• ther­mo­dy­nam­ics
• vibra­tions and waves
• machine design
• man­u­fac­tur­ing process sys­tems engineering

The cours­es are chal­leng­ing and they teach stu­dents how to think crit­i­cal­ly and with a glob­al perspective.

MIT is one of the best engi­neer­ing schools in the world and has been ranked as #1 by US News, Forbes, and QS World Rank­ings. It is a pri­vate research uni­ver­si­ty with a lot of resources for its stu­dents. MIT has a diverse stu­dent body, with many coun­tries rep­re­sent­ed. The school excels in STEM sub­jects, includ­ing all types of engi­neer­ing. Stu­dents gain a lot of ben­e­fits from their time at MIT. This school push­es stu­dents toward suc­cess. Plus, a degree from MIT can help stu­dents stand out while search­ing for a job.

What We Like: MIT has pro­duced 59 Nation­al Medal of Sci­ence winners.

Degree: Mechan­i­cal Engineering

Inter­est­ed? Vis­it the Pro­gram Site!

3. Georgia Tech

Geor­gia Tech’s ME bach­e­lor’s is one of the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing pro­grams avail­able. Described as “broad and flex­i­ble,” this pro­gram gives stu­dents free­dom to spe­cial­ize. The pro­gram fea­tures plen­ty of elec­tive hours, so stu­dents can steer their careers in the direc­tion they want. Stu­dents ben­e­fit from a hands-on approach to learn­ing. They study a full spec­trum of mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing top­ics. These top­ics include:

• busi­ness
• elec­tron­ics
• com­put­er programming 

Stu­dents gain crit­i­cal skills for enter­ing the field or going to grad­u­ate school.

Atlanta’s Geor­gia Insti­tute of Tech­nol­o­gy focus­es on STEM sub­jects, so it makes a good choice for mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing. This pub­lic research uni­ver­si­ty shows stu­dents how to make a dif­fer­ence through tech­nol­o­gy. In fact, part of Geor­gia Tech’s mis­sion is to help stu­dents “improve the human con­di­tion” through tech­nol­o­gy. Geor­gia Tech val­ues inno­va­tion. That’s why it’s a top choice for stu­dents who want to stay on the cut­ting edge of edu­ca­tion. A Geor­gia Tech edu­ca­tion can help stu­dents build suc­cess­ful careers.

What We Like: Geor­gia Tech ranks #4 in Best Under­grad­u­ate Engi­neer­ing Pro­grams, accord­ing to US News and World Report.

Degree: BS in Mechan­i­cal Engineering

Inter­est­ed? Vis­it the Pro­gram Site!

4. California Institute of Technology

The Cal­i­for­nia Insti­tute of Tech­nol­o­gy has one of the best ME degrees for today’s stu­dents. This pro­gram rec­og­nizes that the world has grow­ing tech needs. The pro­gram teach­es stu­dents how they can help meet these needs. Stu­dents learn core mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing top­ics, and they study the impact of mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing on the world. They also pre­pare for lead­er­ship posi­tions, so they can com­mu­ni­cate effec­tive­ly and make a difference.

Cal­tech is a pres­ti­gious, STEM-focused uni­ver­si­ty with no short­age of inno­va­tion. Its impact­ful research has gained atten­tion from around the world. Because it’s so inno­v­a­tive and STEM-cen­tered, many stu­dents choose this school for mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing stud­ies. This pri­vate school has make a glob­al dif­fer­ence. Cal­tech stu­dents are prob­lem-solvers. They see prob­lems as chal­lenges, and they pur­sue unique and effec­tive solu­tions. Cal­tech grad­u­ates have suc­ceed­ed in busi­ness, sci­ence, and more.

What We Like: 46 Nobel Prizes have come from Caltech.

Degree: Mechan­i­cal Engineering

Inter­est­ed? Vis­it the Pro­gram Site!

5. Princeton University

Prince­ton Uni­ver­si­ty’s BSE in Mechan­i­cal Engi­neer­ing helps stu­dents suc­ceed in many ways. Learn­ers can pre­pare for a big range of poten­tial careers. That’s why it’s one of the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees. Stu­dents can even dou­ble major in mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing and aero­space engi­neer­ing. In any case, the pro­gram com­bines hands-on teach­ing with inde­pen­dent study. They learn the basics of mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing and how those basics apply to dif­fer­ent areas. The small stu­dent-to-fac­ul­ty ratio means that stu­dents can always ask questions.

Vir­tu­al­ly every­one rec­og­nizes Prince­ton Uni­ver­si­ty. This school is syn­ony­mous with pres­tige and aca­d­e­m­ic chal­lenges. Mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing stu­dents can expect to take their skills to new heights. Prince­ton’s MAE (Mechan­i­cal and Aero­space Engi­neer­ing) depart­ment has become instru­men­tal in today’s tech­nol­o­gy. Both the MAE depart­ment and Prince­ton itself seek to serve human­i­ty and are a dif­fer­ence around the world. In fact, ser­vice is a core part of the school’s mission.

What We Like: Prince­ton has pro­duced 21 US Rhodes Schol­ars over the past 10 years.

Degree: BSE in Mechan­i­cal Engineering

Inter­est­ed? Vis­it the Pro­gram Site!

6. University of California, Berkeley

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Cal­i­for­nia, Berke­ley has one of the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees in the Unit­ed States. It draws peo­ple who want to solve the world’s most com­plex prob­lems. Stu­dents learn how to solve those prob­lems in prac­ti­cal and cre­ative ways. The mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing field has a lot of career options. This pro­gram is broad enough to help stu­dents suc­ceed in any num­ber of them. Thanks to its Bay Area loca­tion, UC Berke­ley is a cen­tral spot for tech­nol­o­gy and inno­va­tion. The loca­tion makes it a great choice for tech-focused students.

UC Berke­ley chal­lenges its stu­dents and fos­ters their curios­i­ty. It suc­ceeds in many fields, includ­ing STEM. The school has com­mit­ted to excel­lence, and it takes it com­mit­ment very seri­ous­ly. UC Berke­ley has made many sci­en­tif­ic dis­cov­er­ies over the years. Its research has made an impact around the world. Stu­dents often choose this school because they also want to make a dif­fer­ence. Berke­ley stu­dents think out­side the box and forge their own path­ways to success.

What We Like: US News and World Report ranks Berke­ley as the #1 pub­lic uni­ver­si­ty in the world.

Degree: Mechan­i­cal Engineering

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7. University of Illinois

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Illi­nois’s mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing pro­gram helps stu­dents in many fields. After they grad­u­ate, stu­dents can use their mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing skills in all kinds of set­tings. That’s one rea­son why this pro­gram is one of the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees. This pro­gram earns con­sis­tent­ly high rank­ings. It pro­vides a hands-on learn­ing expe­ri­ence, giv­ing stu­dents prac­ti­cal skills. It also pro­vides access to lab­o­ra­to­ries and oth­er impor­tant learn­ing resources.

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Illi­nois is a hub of dis­cov­ery and inno­va­tion. This school is home to entre­pre­neurs, Pulitzer Prize win­ners, and lead­ers. Stu­dents here devel­op their con­fi­dence. As their aca­d­e­m­ic skills grow, so do their career skills. The Uni­ver­si­ty of Illi­nois pro­vides many resources, includ­ing libraries, research cen­ters, and more. Thanks to these resources, chal­leng­ing aca­d­e­mics, and a hands-on learn­ing expe­ri­ence, Uni­ver­si­ty of Illi­nois stu­dents learn how to make a dif­fer­ence in the world.

What We Like: Many pro­grams at the Uni­ver­si­ty of Illi­nois rank among the top ten in the nation.

Degree: Mechan­i­cal Engineering

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8. University of Pennsylvania

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Penn­syl­va­nia offers a degree in mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing and applied mechan­ics. It’s one of the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees for stu­dents with design-cen­tered career goals. The cur­ricu­lum is based on real-world knowl­edge. It bal­ances the­o­ret­i­cal knowl­edge with hands-on work. In this pro­gram, stu­dents don’t just learn how to find the right answers. They learn the con­text for those answers and how to apply the answers to their work in the real world.

Found­ed by Ben­jamin Franklin, UPenn has a long his­to­ry of mak­ing a dif­fer­ence. On top of its chal­leng­ing aca­d­e­m­ic sub­jects, UPenn also teach­es lead­er­ship skills, com­mu­ni­ca­tion, and how to make a dif­fer­ence. Stu­dents learn how to take action in their class­es and careers. This inno­v­a­tive uni­ver­si­ty focus­es on today’s most com­pli­cat­ed prob­lems. It pro­duces effec­tive research that address­es these prob­lems. It also empow­ers stu­dents to use their own pas­sions to make a difference.

What We Like: US News and World Report ranks UPenn #8 among nation­al universities.

Degree: Mechan­i­cal Engi­neer­ing and Applied Mechanics

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9. University of Michigan — Ann Arbor

The mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing pro­gram at the Uni­ver­si­ty of Michi­gan is one of the best choic­es among mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees. It ranks high­ly across sev­er­al lists. Stu­dents who pur­sue a degree in mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing can get involved in every­thing from cars and air­planes to robots and med­ical devices. This pro­gram pre­pares them for all of these pos­si­bil­i­ties. They learn design, con­struc­tion, and oth­er impor­tant mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing concepts.

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Michi­gan is a pub­lic uni­ver­si­ty and one of the world’s lead­ing research schools. The Uni­ver­si­ty of Michi­gan has been ranked among America’s top col­leges and top 40 uni­ver­si­ties for over a decade. It has a glob­al reach, with stu­dents from all over the world. Stu­dents learn from mul­ti­ple per­spec­tives at this school. The Uni­ver­si­ty of Michi­gan is wide­ly known for its edu­ca­tion pro­grams, research projects, and unique tra­di­tions. Most impor­tant­ly, it helps stu­dents dis­cov­er and hone their passions.

What We Like: UMich’s engi­neer­ing depart­ment has 50% female leadership.

Degree: Mechan­i­cal Engineering

Inter­est­ed? Vis­it the Pro­gram Site!

10. Duke University

Duke Uni­ver­si­ty has a very rep­utable BSE in Mechan­i­cal Engi­neer­ing pro­gram. In fact, it’s one of the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees avail­able. Duke’s mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing pro­gram has some of the most well-edu­cat­ed and ded­i­cat­ed pro­fes­sors. These pro­fes­sors are also some of the biggest names in engi­neer­ing, which can help stu­dents make con­nec­tions after they grad­u­ate. Cours­es teach all aspects of mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing, from design­ing machines to safe­ty reg­u­la­tions and more.

Duke Uni­ver­si­ty is a pri­vate research uni­ver­si­ty locat­ed in Durham, North Car­oli­na. This school is both chal­leng­ing and sup­port­ive, help­ing stu­dents achieve their post-grad­u­a­tion goals. Duke offers a vari­ety of cours­es and majors, includ­ing its engi­neer­ing pro­grams, which have gained recog­ni­tion across the coun­try. Duke has impres­sive aca­d­e­mics and career-focused sup­port. It also per­forms impres­sive research and offers impor­tant resources that help stu­dents suc­ceed, includ­ing intern­ships and oth­er career-build­ing options.

What We Like: Accord­ing to Payscale.com, Duke Uni­ver­si­ty is one of the “best schools for engi­neer­ing majors by salary potential.”

Degree: BSE in Mechan­i­cal Engineering

Inter­est­ed? Vis­it the Pro­gram Site!

11. Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mel­lon Uni­ver­si­ty’s mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing pro­gram pro­vides stu­dents with core tech­ni­cal skills. These skills helps stu­dents in a vari­ety of mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing careers. The pro­gram focus­es on design, analy­sis, man­u­fac­tur­ing, and oper­a­tion. Stu­dents learn the basics of engi­neer­ing analy­sis and design. Then, they move on to more spe­cif­ic and advanced top­ics. Because this pro­gram pre­pares stu­dents for many pos­si­bil­i­ties, it’s one of the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees in its region.

Carnegie Mel­lon Uni­ver­si­ty offers a vari­ety of majors, includ­ing engi­neer­ing degrees. The Col­lege of Engi­neer­ing at Carnegie Mel­lon pro­vides a wel­com­ing envi­ron­ment where stu­dents to learn and thrive. The pro­fes­sors and staff at Carnegie Mel­lon are always avail­able to help stu­dents suc­ceed and make the most out of their time in col­lege. Stu­dents can also take advan­tage of study abroad pro­grams, research oppor­tu­ni­ties, and oth­er career-build­ing options. This school helps stu­dents make the most of edu­ca­tion and build connections.

What We Like: Carnegie Mel­lon Uni­ver­si­ty has had 43 Gold­wa­ter Scholars.

Degree: Mechan­i­cal Engineering

Inter­est­ed? Vis­it the Pro­gram Site!

12. Virginia Tech

The Mechan­i­cal Engi­neer­ing Pro­gram at Vir­ginia Tech is one of the top pro­grams in the nation. Stu­dents work with some of the most advanced equip­ment and teach­ers I the nation. They learn every­thing from advanced lab­o­ra­to­ry tech­niques to pro­duc­tion con­trol and inven­to­ry man­age­ment. The pro­gram has a high suc­cess rate and grad­u­ates are able to find jobs in a vari­ety of fields. As a result, this pro­gram is count­ed among the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees.

Vir­ginia Tech is a pub­lic, land-grant uni­ver­si­ty in Blacks­burg, Vir­ginia. It’s been ranked one of the top uni­ver­si­ties in the nation and pro­duces big results. Vir­ginia Tech has a rep­u­ta­tion for out­stand­ing engi­neer­ing pro­grams. Many of its stu­dents go into engi­neer­ing or sim­i­lar sci­ences. This large and thriv­ing uni­ver­si­ty chal­lenges stu­dents while pro­vid­ing sup­port and oppor­tu­ni­ty. It invites stu­dents to dive deep­er into their passions.

What We Like: Accord­ing to ASEE, Vir­ginia Tech ranks #4 in the US for bach­e­lor’s degrees award­ed in mechan­i­cal engineering.

Degree: BS in Mechan­i­cal Engineering

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13. University of Texas at Austin

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Texas at Austin offers a BS in Mechan­i­cal Engi­neer­ing. The pro­gram cov­ers top­ics such as:

• ther­mo­dy­nam­ics
• sol­id mechanics
• mate­ri­als
• man­u­fac­tur­ing processes
• flu­ids

As one of the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees, this pro­gram has an inno­v­a­tive cur­ricu­lum that keeps stu­dents engaged with hands-on expe­ri­ence. The uni­ver­si­ty’s engi­neer­ing pro­gram has been ranked as one of the top pro­grams in the coun­try. Its stu­dents move on to high­ly suc­cess­ful engi­neer­ing careers.

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Texas at Austin is a pub­lic research uni­ver­si­ty in Austin, Texas. This school has a long his­to­ry and a large enroll­ment. In fact, it’s one of the largest uni­ver­si­ties in the Unit­ed States. As such, it has a lot of resources and oppor­tu­ni­ties to offer its stu­dents. It’s one of the top pub­lic uni­ver­si­ties in the nation, and it helps stu­dents make con­nec­tions and achieve career goals. The Walk­er Depart­ment of Mechan­i­cal Engi­neer­ing has pro­duced life-chang­ing research.

What We Like: US News and World Report ranks UT Austin as one of the top mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing pro­grams in the Unit­ed States.

Degree: BS in Mechan­i­cal Engineering

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14. Texas A&M University

Texas A&M Uni­ver­si­ty’s Mechan­i­cal Engi­neer­ing pro­gram is ranked among the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees. That’s because the pro­gram is hands-on, inno­v­a­tive, and rig­or­ous. Stu­dents exam­ine the lat­est research and work close­ly with their pro­fes­sors. This pro­gram pre­pares stu­dents for the high job place­ment rates and lucra­tive salaries that come with the mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing field. Stu­dents learn how to max­i­mize their poten­tial in the field and make the most of their opportunities.

Texas A&M is a large, thriv­ing uni­ver­si­ty with sev­er­al cam­pus­es. TAMU is one of the top schools in the US for aca­d­e­mics. It chal­lenges its stu­dents and helps them reach beyond their com­fort zones. TAMU stu­dents can study a wide vari­ety of sub­jects through the university’s well-estab­lished research depart­ments. The school has an exten­sive fac­ul­ty and alum­ni base, so it makes a good choice for stu­dents who want to make career connections.

What We Like: Texas A&M Uni­ver­si­ty ranks #3 among inter­na­tion­al mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing programs.

Degree: BS in Mechan­i­cal Engineering

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15. Colorado School of Mines

Col­orado School of Mines has a great engi­neer­ing pro­gram. The pro­gram offers many oppor­tu­ni­ties for stu­dents to get hands-on expe­ri­ence and make a dif­fer­ence in the world. Stu­dents learn the tools of the trade and gain core prob­lem-solv­ing skills. Because the School of Mines has a strong tra­di­tion of ser­vice and sus­tain­abil­i­ty, its engi­neer­ing pro­gram strives to do things bet­ter, safer, faster, and more eco­nom­i­cal­ly. Grad­u­ates from the School of Mines have been respon­si­ble for impres­sive engi­neer­ing feats.

The Col­orado School of Mines is a pub­lic research uni­ver­si­ty that is known for its engi­neer­ing pro­grams. It focus­es most­ly on sci­ence and engi­neer­ing, so it has a lot of resources for STEM-focused stu­dents. Stu­dents and fac­ul­ty address society’s most impor­tant chal­lenges. They use their skills to cre­ate solu­tions for those chal­lenges. Col­orado School of Mines has a high career place­ment rate and excel­lent stu­dent outcomes.

What We Like: Col­orado School of Mines was ranked as the #1 safest col­lege cam­pus in Colorado.

Degree: BS in Mechan­i­cal Engineering

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16. University of Virginia

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Vir­ginia has one of the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees in the nation. This pro­gram comes with sev­er­al advan­tages, includ­ing a world-class machine shop on cam­pus. Stu­dents grow their mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing knowl­edge with inno­va­tion and cre­ativ­i­ty. The envi­ron­ment cul­ti­vates stu­dents prob­lem-solv­ing skills, giv­ing them the oppor­tu­ni­ty to try new thing. The pro­gram uses hands-on learn­ing, with lots of oppor­tu­ni­ty to get involved.

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Vir­ginia is a pub­lic school found­ed by Thomas Jef­fer­son. As a result, it has a long his­to­ry of excel­lence. It was designed from the start to be a research insti­tu­tion, and it still makes a dif­fer­ence today. The Uni­ver­si­ty of Vir­ginia School of Engi­neer­ing is one of the best in the nation. It’s also one of the old­est, as the fourth uni­ver­si­ty-lev­el engi­neer­ing school in the Unit­ed States. The school offers many pro­grams, includ­ing mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing. It has research cen­ters and lots of tan­gi­ble learn­ing opportunities.

What We Like: The Uni­ver­si­ty of Vir­ginia con­sis­tent­ly ranks among the best val­ue col­leges in the Unit­ed States.

Degree: BS in Mechan­i­cal Engineering

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17. University of Minnesota

The Mechan­i­cal Engi­neer­ing pro­gram at the Uni­ver­si­ty of Min­neso­ta offers many dif­fer­ent routes for stu­dents to explore. The pro­gram rec­og­nizes many paths to suc­cess. It helps stu­dents achieve their career goals, no mat­ter which path­way works best for them. The pro­gram has a strong research rep­u­ta­tion. It also has a high job place­ment rate for stu­dents. Grad­u­ates from this pro­gram tend to earn high start­ing salaries.

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Min­neso­ta has a rich his­to­ry, strong aca­d­e­mics, com­pet­i­tive ath­let­ics, and plen­ty of oth­er ben­e­fits for stu­dents. The Uni­ver­si­ty of Min­neso­ta has become one of the top research uni­ver­si­ties in the coun­try. It has many inno­v­a­tive pro­grams, includ­ing mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing and oth­er STEM sub­jects. The Uni­ver­si­ty of Min­neso­ta is home to some of the world’s top schol­ars in near­ly every aca­d­e­m­ic field. As stu­dents grow their aca­d­e­m­ic abil­i­ties, they also grow as peo­ple. This school has earned respect across the Unit­ed States.

What We Like: Minnesota’s engi­neer­ing pro­grams con­sis­tent­ly rank among the top 25 in the Unit­ed States.

Degree: Mechan­i­cal Engineering

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18. University of Florida

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Flori­da has one of the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees avail­able. The pro­gram offers many ben­e­fits, includ­ing world-class fac­ul­ty mem­bers and strong ties to the indus­try. It has a chal­leng­ing cur­ricu­lum that helps stu­dents learn, grow, and gain con­fi­dence in their abil­i­ties. The Uni­ver­si­ty of Flori­da also offers a com­bined BS/MS pro­gram, so stu­dents who want to earn a master’s degree can do so as quick­ly as possible.

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Flori­da is one of the top-ranked insti­tu­tions in the coun­try. It has excel­lent edu­ca­tion­al facil­i­ties and a vari­ety of great pro­grams for stu­dents to choose from. UF is com­mit­ted to chal­leng­ing the sta­tus quo and mak­ing the world a bet­ter place through inno­v­a­tive ideas. It helps “great stu­dents become even greater.” And of course, UF is famous for its ath­let­ics, with Gators foot­ball fans all over the country.

What We Like: US News and World Report ranks UF as one of the best col­leges for veterans.

Degree: BS in Mechan­i­cal Engineering

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19. Lehigh University

Lehigh Uni­ver­si­ty offers one of the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees for today’s stu­dents. The pro­gram has a com­pre­hen­sive foun­da­tion in engi­neer­ing and sci­ence. Stu­dents gain an under­stand­ing of the human and social aspects of engi­neer­ing, too. This degree pre­pares stu­dents to enter careers in indus­try, gov­ern­ment, or acad­e­mia. This pro­gram incor­po­rates the study of engi­neer­ing sci­ences, math­e­mat­ics, and more. It’s a well-round­ed but focused pro­gram that lets stu­dents dive into the mechan­i­cal world.

Lehigh Uni­ver­si­ty is a small, pri­vate research uni­ver­si­ty. The uni­ver­si­ty is home a high­ly-respect­ed school of engi­neer­ing. In fact, engi­neer­ing is one of the most sought-after degree pro­grams at Lehigh. The school was found­ed on indus­try and phil­an­thropy, and it’s one of the the old­est uni­ver­si­ties in the Unit­ed States. Today, it’s a leader in research and the sci­ences. Lehigh stu­dents find thriv­ing careers after grad­u­a­tion, since the school pre­pares them for success.

What We Like: Lehigh Uni­ver­si­ty was the 6th uni­ver­si­ty in the world to be rec­og­nized as an NGO by the Unit­ed Nations.

Degree: BS in Mechan­i­cal Engineering

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20. Ohio State University

Ohio State Uni­ver­si­ty’s mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing pro­gram pro­vides the nec­es­sary edu­ca­tion and train­ing for stu­dents to enter the engi­neer­ing pro­fes­sion. The pro­gram empha­sizes an under­stand­ing of design and man­u­fac­tur­ing prin­ci­ples, and pro­vides oppor­tu­ni­ties for prac­ti­cal expe­ri­ence in the fields of pro­duc­tion and man­u­fac­tur­ing. It ranks high­ly among engi­neer­ing pro­grams. Many con­sid­er this pro­gram one of the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees in the US.

Ohio State Uni­ver­si­ty is a major pub­lic research uni­ver­si­ty and a leader in inno­va­tion. OSU began with a focus on train­ing stu­dents in var­i­ous agri­cul­tur­al and mechan­i­cal dis­ci­plines. These days, it offers a wide vari­ety of majors and has become one of the largest uni­ver­si­ties in the coun­try. From ath­let­ics to aca­d­e­mics, OSU has made an impres­sive name for itself.

What We Like: OSU is ranked among the top 50 nation­al universities.

Degree: BS in Mechan­i­cal Engineering

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21. Pennsylvania State University

Penn State’s mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing pro­gram has been called one of the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees, and it has the research to back those claims. The pro­gram offers one of the best fac­ul­ty to stu­dent ratios in the coun­try and pro­motes a hands-on learn­ing envi­ron­ment. Stu­dents can get involved with design projects, indus­try part­ner­ships, and more. The pro­gram pro­vides plen­ty of oppor­tu­ni­ties to learn and lots of resources to help stu­dents succeed.

Penn­syl­va­nia State Uni­ver­si­ty is a medi­um-sized uni­ver­si­ty with a big rep­u­ta­tion. The uni­ver­si­ty offers many dif­fer­ent majors and sports, but it may be best known for its agri­cul­tur­al sci­ences, nurs­ing, and engi­neer­ing pro­grams. Penn State is a pres­ti­gious school. It has gained respect from stu­dents, alum­ni, and employ­ers. A Penn State degree can help stu­dents make impor­tant career con­nec­tions and move for­ward with con­fi­dence. This school has become the step­ping-stone for many suc­cess­ful careers.

What We Like: Penn State is a top 55 world-class uni­ver­si­ty and a top 25 US research university.

Degree: BS in Mechan­i­cal Engineering

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22. Rensselaer Polytechnic University

Rens­se­laer Poly­tech­nic Uni­ver­si­ty has one of the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees. This pro­gram is designed to pre­pare stu­dents for the demand­ing and com­pet­i­tive jobs in the mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing indus­try. The cur­ricu­lum includes math, physics, and oth­er impor­tant sub­jects. Stu­dents learn about ther­mo­dy­nam­ics, mate­ri­als strength, and oth­er fac­tors that impact mechan­i­cal oper­a­tions. As stu­dents sharp­en their engi­neer­ing skills, they start on a path to career success.

RPI is a pri­vate uni­ver­si­ty and the old­est tech­no­log­i­cal research insti­tu­tion in the coun­try. It offers an excel­lent edu­ca­tion, which is why it ranks so high­ly on many col­lege lists. Devot­ed to teach­ing and research, RPI focus­es on the STEM fields. Stu­dents learn how to use these skills to solve real-world prob­lems. Many RPI grad­u­ates have become lead­ers in sci­ence and technology.

What We Like: RPI is one of the top 50 research uni­ver­si­ties in the US, accord­ing to US News and World Report.

Degree: BS in Mechan­i­cal Engineering

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23. Case Western Reserve University

At Case West­ern Reserve Uni­ver­si­ty, the mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degree pre­pares stu­dents for thriv­ing careers. It’s one of the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees in the Unit­ed States today. This pro­gram empha­sizes the design and analy­sis of sys­tems and com­po­nents. Stu­dents learn how mechan­i­cal sys­tems work, from design and man­u­fac­tur­ing to analy­sis. They learn how to solve mechan­i­cal prob­lems and how to become lead­ers in the field.

Case West­ern Reserve Uni­ver­si­ty is a pri­vate research uni­ver­si­ty that offers both grad­u­ate and under­grad­u­ate pro­grams. The school has a long and rich his­to­ry, and it remains a leader in mid­west­ern high­er edu­ca­tion. This school per­forms espe­cial­ly well in sci­ence and sim­i­lar fields, though it also pro­vides a great edu­ca­tion in oth­er areas.

What We Like: CWRU ranks #1 in Ohio for tuition ROI.

Degree: BSE in Mechan­i­cal Engineering

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24. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

The mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing pro­gram at Worces­ter Poly­tech­nic Insti­tute pro­vides the nec­es­sary the­o­ry and prac­ti­cal skills for a suc­cess­ful career. Stu­dents learn how to design, build, and test devices or sys­tems that con­vert ener­gy into use­ful work. It’s one of the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees avail­able because it focus­es on the skills that stu­dents need most today. Stu­dents gain the skills they need to pro­duce work­ing engi­neer­ing solu­tions and make a difference.

Worces­ter Poly­tech­nic Insti­tute is a pri­vate research uni­ver­si­ty. It was found­ed to advance indus­try and make a dif­fer­ence for the future. Today, it still remains on the cut­ting edge of tech­nol­o­gy and research. It focus­es on sub­jects like engi­neer­ing and math, and it uses the lat­est tech­niques in these areas. Its research has cre­at­ed solu­tions for com­plex and impor­tant prob­lems. WPI uses a project-based edu­ca­tion for­mat, so stu­dents start using hands-on work right away.

What We Like: WPI ranks among the top 100 nation­al uni­ver­si­ties in the US.

Degree: BS in Mechan­i­cal Engineering

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25. University of California, San Diego

The Uni­ver­si­ty of Cal­i­for­nia, San Diego has one of the best mechan­i­cal engi­neer­ing degrees in the nation. It ranks high­ly and pro­vides a rig­or­ous and respect­ed edu­ca­tion. Fac­ul­ty mem­bers are lead­ing experts in the field, and stu­dents get to make impor­tant con­nec­tions as they learn. This pro­gram uses cut­ting-edge tech­niques in the class­room, and it teach­es the skills that stu­dents will need most in the field. Those skills include sol­id mechan­ics, flu­id mechan­ics, and much more.

UC San Diego is a pri­vate research uni­ver­si­ty and a leader in Cal­i­for­nia edu­ca­tion. UC San Diego offers a vari­ety of under­grad­u­ate and grad­u­ate pro­grams in many fields. At UC San Diego, stu­dents and fac­ul­ty under­take ground­break­ing schol­ar­ship and research across dis­ci­plines. This top research uni­ver­si­ty has a beau­ti­ful cam­pus and many career resources.

What We Like: UC San Diego is one of the top 50 nation­al universities.

Degree: BS in Mechan­i­cal Engineering

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Fre­quent­ly Asked Questions