51 Best Colleges for Mechanical Engineering – 2024
April 26, 2024
![best colleges for mechanical engineering](jpg/mechanical-engineering.jpg)
Mechanical engineers are tasked with taking something from an idea to a product that is functional, durable, and aesthetically pleasing. To accomplish this monumental task, students must become well-versed in physics, engineering, and materials science, and attending an elite undergraduate institution will give you an edge in both knowledge acquisition and the subsequent career-launching phase. The schools on our best colleges for mechanical engineering list all offer undergraduates access to laboratories stocked with the latest technologies, opportunities to participate in research, and an array of real-world experiences that will prepare students for a competitive job market.
Methodology
Click here to read our methodology for the Best Colleges for Mechanical Engineering.
Salary Information
Want to know how much money graduates of the best mechanical engineering colleges make when they begin their careers? For each college listed (and hundreds of additional schools), you can view the starting salaries for mechanical engineering majors.
Best Colleges for Mechanical Engineering
Here’s a quick preview of the first ten mechanical engineering institutions that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.
1) Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2) California Institute of Technology
3) Washington University in St Louis
4) Duke University
5) Carnegie Mellon University
6) Yale University
7) Princeton University
8) Stanford University
9) Johns Hopkins University
10) University of Notre Dame
All of the schools profiled below have stellar reputations in the area of mechanical engineering and commit substantial resources to undergraduate education. For each of the best mechanical engineering colleges, College Transitions will provide you with—when available—the university’s:
We will also include a longer write-up of each college’s:
- Academic Highlights – Includes facts like student-to-faculty ratio, average class size, number of majors offered, and most popular majors.
- Professional Outcomes – Includes info on the rate of positive outcomes, companies employing alumni, and graduate school acceptances.
![Massachusetts Institute of Technology](png/mit.png)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Cambridge, MA
Academic Highlights: Undergraduates pursue one of 57 majors and 59 minors at this world-class research institution that continues to be one of the world’s most magnetic destinations for math and science geniuses. The student-to-faculty ratio is an astonishing 3-to-1, and over two-fifths of all class sections have single-digit enrollments, and 70% of courses contain fewer than twenty students. The highest numbers of degrees conferred in 2022 were in the following majors: engineering (31%), computer science and engineering (28%), mathematics (10%), and the physical sciences (7%).
Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2023 saw 29% of its members enter the world of employment and 43% continue on their educational paths. The top employers included Accenture, Amazon, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Google, General Motors, the US Navy, Apple, Bain & Company, and McKinsey. The mean starting salary for an MIT bachelor’s degree holder was $95,000. The most frequently attended graduate schools are a who’s who of elite institutions including MIT itself, Stanford, Caltech, Harvard, and the University of Oxford.
- Enrollment: 4,657
- Cost of Attendance: $82,730
- Median SAT: 1550
- Median ACT: 35
- Acceptance Rate: 4%
- Retention Rate: 99%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
![California Institute of Technology](png/logos_110404.png)
California Institute of Technology
- Pasadena, CA
Academic Highlights: Across all divisions, there are 28 distinct majors. Possessing an absurdly favorable 3:1 student-to-faculty ratio, plenty of individualized attention is up for grabs. Class sizes are not quite as tiny as the student-to-faculty ratio might suggest, but 70% of courses enroll fewer than twenty students, and 28% enroll fewer than ten. Computer science is the most popular major, accounting for 38% of all degrees conferred. Engineering (30%), the physical sciences (20%), and mathematics (6%) also have strong representation.
Professional Outcomes: Caltech is a rare school that sees six-figure average starting salaries for its graduates; in 2022, the median figure was $120,000. Forty-three percent of recent grads went directly into the workforce and found homes at tech giants such as Google, Intel, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta. A healthy 46% of those receiving their diplomas in 2022 continued directly on the higher education path, immediately entering graduate school. Ninety-seven percent of these students were admitted to one of their top-choice schools.
- Enrollment: 982
- Cost of Attendance: $86,886
- Median SAT: Test Blind
- Median ACT: Test Blind
- Acceptance Rate: 3%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
![Washington University in St. Louis](jpg/download-3.jpg)
Washington University in St. Louis
- St. Louis, MO
Academic Highlights: WashU admits students into five schools, many of which offer nationally recognized programs: Arts & Sciences, the Olin School of Business, the School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, and the Art of Architecture programs housed within the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts. The most commonly conferred degrees are in engineering (13%), social sciences (13%), business (13%), biology (11%), and psychology (10%). 66% of classes have fewer than 20 students, and over one-quarter have single-digit enrollments. 65% double major or pursue a minor.
Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2022 sent 52% of grads into the workforce and 28% into graduate and professional schools. Companies employing the highest number of WashU grads feature sought-after employers such as Amazon, Bain, Boeing, Deloitte, Google, IBM, Goldman Sachs, and Microsoft. Of the employed members of the Class of 2022 who reported their starting salaries, 79% made more than $60k. The universities welcoming the largest number of Bears included the prestigious institutions of Caltech, Columbia, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Stanford.
- Enrollment: 8,132 (undergraduate); 8,880 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $83,760
- Median SAT: 1530
- Median ACT: 34
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 93%
![Duke University](jpg/duke-logo.jpg)
Duke University
- Durham, NC
Academic Highlights: The academic offerings at Duke include 53 majors, 52 minors, and 23 interdisciplinary certificates. Class sizes are on the small side—71% are nineteen or fewer, and almost one-quarter are less than ten. A stellar 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio helps keep classes so reasonable even while catering to five figures worth of graduate students. Computer Science is the most popular area of concentration (11%), followed by economics (10%), public policy (9%), biology (8%), and computer engineering (7%).
Professional Outcomes: At graduation, approximately 70% of Duke diploma-earners enter the world of work, 20% continue into graduate schools, and 2% start their own businesses. The industries that attract the largest percentage of Blue Devils are tech (21%), finance (15%), business (15%), healthcare (9%), and science/research (6%). Of the 20% headed into graduate school, a hefty 22% are attending medical school, 18% are in PhD programs, and 12% are entering law school. The med school acceptance rate is 85%, more than twice the national average.
- Enrollment: 6,640
- Cost of Attendance: $85,238
- SAT Range: 1490-1570
- ACT Range: 34-35
- Acceptance Rate: 6%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 97%
![Carnegie Mellon University](jpg/cmu-logo.jpg)
Carnegie Mellon University
- Pittsburgh, PA
Academic Highlights: There are a combined 80+ undergraduate majors and 90 minors available across the six schools. Impressively, particularly for a school with more graduate students than undergrads, CMU boasts a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes, with 36% containing single digits. In a given school year, 800+ undergraduates conduct research through the University Research Office. The most commonly conferred degrees are in engineering (21%), computer science (16%), mathematics (12%), business (10%), and visual and performing arts (9%).
Professional Outcomes: By the end of the calendar year in which they received their diplomas, 66% of 2022 grads were employed, and 28% were continuing to graduate school. The companies that have routinely scooped up CMU grads include Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Accenture, McKinsey, and Deloitte. With an average starting salary of $105,194, CMU grads outpace the average starting salary for a college grad nationally. Of those pursuing graduate education, around 20% typically enroll immediately in PhD programs.
- Enrollment: 7,509
- Cost of Attendance: $84,412
- Median SAT: 1540
- Median ACT: 35
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
![Yale University](png/logos_130794.png)
Yale University
- New Haven, CT
Academic Highlights: Yale offers 80 majors, most of which require a one- to two-semester senior capstone experience. Undergraduate research is a staple, and over 70% of classes—of which there are over 2,000 to choose from—have an enrollment of fewer than 20 students, making Yale a perfect environment for teaching and learning. Among the top departments are biology, economics, global affairs, engineering, history, and computer science. The social sciences (26%), biology (11%), mathematics (8%), and computer science (8%) are the most popular areas of concentration.
Professional Outcomes: Shortly after graduating, 73% of the Yale Class of 2022 had entered the world of employment and 18% matriculated into graduate programs. Hundreds of Yale alums can be found at each of the world’s top companies including Google, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Company, Morgan Stanley, and Microsoft. The most common industries entered by the newly hired were finance (20%), research/education (16%), technology (14%), and consulting (12%). The mean starting salary for last year’s grads was $81,769 ($120k for CS majors). Nearly one-fifth of students immediately pursue graduate school.
- Enrollment: 6,590 (undergraduate); 5,344 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $87,705
- Median SAT: 1540
- Median ACT: 35
- Acceptance Rate: 5%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 98%
![Princeton University](png/download-2.png)
Princeton University
- Princeton, NJ
Academic Highlights: 39 majors are available at Princeton. Just under three-quarters of class sections have an enrollment of 19 or fewer students, and 31% have fewer than ten students. Princeton is known for its commitment to undergraduate teaching, and students consistently rate professors as accessible and helpful. The Engineering Department is widely recognized as one of the country’s best, as is the School of Public and International Affairs.
Professional Highlights: Over 95% of a typical Tiger class finds their next destination within six months of graduating. Large numbers of recent grads flock to the fields of business and engineering, health/science, & tech. Companies presently employing hundreds of Tiger alumni include Google, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, Morgan Stanley, IBM, and Meta. The average salary ranges from $40k (education, health care, or social services) to $100k (computer/mathematical positions). Between 15-20% of graduating Tigers head directly to graduate/professional school.
- Enrollment: 5,604 (undergraduate); 3,238 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $86,700
- Median SAT: 1540
- Median ACT: 35
- Acceptance Rate: 6%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 98%
![Stanford University](jpg/stanford-university-logo-scaled-e1708745939202.jpg)
Stanford University
- Palo Alto, CA
Academic Highlights: Stanford has three undergraduate schools: the School of Humanities & Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the School of Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences. 69% of classes have fewer than twenty students, and 34% have a single-digit enrollment. Programs in engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, international relations, and economics are arguably the best anywhere. In terms of sheer volume, the greatest number of degrees are conferred in the social sciences (17%), computer science (16%), engineering (15%), and interdisciplinary studies (13%).
Professional Outcomes: Stanford grads entering the working world flock to three major industries in equal distribution: business/finance/consulting/retail (19%); computer, IT (19%); and public policy and service, international affairs (19%). Among the companies employing the largest number of recent grads are Accenture, Apple, Bain, Cisco, Meta, Goldman Sachs, Google, McKinsey, Microsoft, and SpaceX. Other companies that employ hundreds of Cardinal alums include LinkedIn, Salesforce, and Airbnb. Starting salaries for Stanford grads are among the highest in the country.
- Enrollment: 8,049 (undergraduate); 10,236 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $87,833
- Median SAT: 1540
- Median ACT: 35
- Acceptance Rate: 4%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
![Johns Hopkins University](jpg/jhu-logo.jpg)
Johns Hopkins University
- Baltimore, MD
Academic Highlights: With 53 majors as well as 51 minors, JHU excels in everything from its bread-and-butter medical-related majors to international relations and dance. Boasting an enviable 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio and with 78% of course sections possessing an enrollment under 20, face time with professors is a reality. Many departments carry a high level of clout, including biomedical engineering, chemistry, English, and international studies. Biology, neuroscience, and computer science, which happen to be the three most popular majors, can also be found at the top of the national rankings.
Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2022 saw 94% of graduates successfully land at their next destination within six months of exiting the university; 66% of graduates entered the world of employment and a robust 19% went directly to graduate/professional school. The median starting salary across all majors was $80,000 for the Class of 2022. JHU itself is the most popular choice for graduate school. The next most frequently attended institutions included Columbia, Harvard, Yale, and MIT.
- Enrollment: 6,044
- Cost of Attendance: $86,065
- Median SAT: 1540
- Median ACT: 35
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
![University of Notre Dame](png/notre-dame.png)
University of Notre Dame
- Notre Dame, IN
Academic Highlights: 75 majors are offered across six undergraduate colleges: the School of Architecture, the College of Arts and Letters, the Mendoza School of Business (one of the country’s best business schools), the College of Engineering, the Keough School of Global Affairs, and the College of Science. In 2022, the most degrees were conferred in business (20%), the social sciences (18%), engineering (12%), and biology (8%). A solid 60% of courses enroll fewer than 20 students, and 15% have single-digit numbers. 75% of Notre Dame undergrads study abroad.
Professional Outcomes: 69% of 2022 grads directly entered the world of employment, with the most common industries being financial services (21%), consulting (17%), technology (12%), and health services (9%). Massive numbers of alumni can be found at Deloitte, EY, PwC, IBM, Accenture, Booz Allen Hamilton, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and McKinsey & Co. The median early-career salary was $76,000. Of the 20% of grads who went directly into their graduate/professional studies, 18% were pursuing medical degrees and 9% were studying law.
- Enrollment: 8,971 (undergraduate); 4,134 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $86,125
- Median SAT: 1500
- Median ACT: 34
- Acceptance Rate: 13%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 96%
![Northeastern University](png/northeastern.png)
Northeastern University
- Boston, MA
Academic Highlights: Northeastern offers 290 majors and 180 combined majors within nine colleges and programs. Experiential learning is had by virtually all graduates, thanks to the school’s illustrious and robust co-op program. The D’Amore-McKim School of Business is a top-ranked school and offers one of the best international business programs anywhere, and both the College of Engineering and College of Computer Science are highly respected as well. Criminal justice, architecture, and nursing are three other majors that rate near the top nationally.
Professional Outcomes: Nine months after leaving Northeastern, 97% of students have landed at their next employment or graduate school destination. Huskies entering the job market are quickly rounded up by the likes of State Street, Fidelity Investments, IBM, and Amazon, all of whom employ 500+ Northeastern alums. Between 200 and 500 employees at Wayfair, Google, Amazon, Oracle, IBM, and Apple have an NU lineage. Starting salaries are above average (55% make more than $60k), in part due to the stellar co-op program.
- Enrollment: 20,980 (undergraduate); 15,826 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $86,821
- Median SAT: 1500
- Median ACT: 34
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
![Worcester Polytechnic Institute](jpg/358456349_660262766143462_6103978792149802476_n-e1706813205158.jpg)
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- Worcester, MA
Academic Highlights: Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) offers a hands-on and innovative project-based curriculum; all students complete a minimum of two long-term research projects that are focused on solving real-world problems. A staggering 52% of its classes enroll fewer than ten students, creating an incredible level of academic intimacy. The most popular majors are under the engineering umbrella (63%) and computer science (16%). The undergraduate engineering program is respected worldwide and frequently graces lists of top schools.
Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 94% of 2022 grads landed jobs or enrolled full-time in graduate school. Recent grads found jobs at top companies including Airbnb, DraftKings, Amazon Robotics, and NASA. Hundreds of WPI alumni are employed at Raytheon, Pratt & Whitney, Dell, and BAE Systems. The average starting salary is over $74,000 and is one of the highest in the country. Over one-quarter of grads elect to pursue an advanced degree immediately after graduation, enrolling at institutions that recently included Georgia Tech, Brown, Johns Hopkins, and Stanford.
- Enrollment: 5,246 (undergraduate); 2,062 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $81,751
- Median SAT: Test Blind
- Median ACT: Test Blind
- Acceptance Rate: 57%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 87%
![University of Michigan](png/logos_170976.png)
University of Michigan
- Ann Arbor, MI
Academic Highlights: There are 280+ undergraduate degree programs across fourteen schools and colleges, and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) enrolls the majority of students. The Ross School of Business offers highly rated programs in entrepreneurship, management, accounting, and finance. The College of Engineering is also one of the best in the country. By degrees conferred, engineering (15%), computer science (14%), and the social sciences (11%) are most popular. A solid 56% of classes have fewer than 20 students.
Professional Outcomes: Within three months of graduating, 89% of LSA grads are employed full-time or in graduate school, with healthcare, education, law, banking, research, nonprofit work, and consulting being the most popular sectors. Within three months, 99% of Ross grads are employed with a median salary of $90k. Top employers include Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, EY, Morgan Stanley, PwC, Deloitte, and Amazon. Within six months, 96% of engineering grads are employed (average salary of $84k) or in grad school. General Motors, Ford, Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta employ the greatest number of alumni.
- Enrollment: 32,695 (undergraduate); 18,530 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $35,450 (in-state); $76,294 (out-of-state)
- Median SAT: 1470
- Median ACT: 33
- Acceptance Rate: 18%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 93%
![United States Naval Academy](jpg/nstar-navy-e1708028048575.jpg)
United States Naval Academy
- Annapolis, MD
Academic Highlights: The Naval Academy has some of the top-ranked undergraduate engineering programs in the world with standout reputations in aerospace, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering. 26 different undergraduate programs are offered in a variety of disciplines, but at least 65% of each class must complete degrees in a STEM discipline in order to meet the highly technological needs of the Navy. Close to three-quarters of course sections will contain fewer than 20 students, and the student-to-faculty ratio is a stellar 7:1.
Professional Outcomes: USNA midshipmen have a mandatory five-year military commitment upon graduating, so the vast majority immediately become ensigns in the Navy or second lieutenants in the Marine Corps. Very few are cleared to enter graduate school directly after receiving their bachelor’s. However, upon entering civilian employment/life, alumni flock to companies that include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Booz Allen Hamilton, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and McKinsey and Co. They also enjoy some of the highest average salaries of any alumni group in the country.
- Enrollment: 1,175
- Cost of Attendance: $0
- Median SAT: 1330
- Median ACT: 30
- Acceptance Rate: 9%
- Retention Rate: 87%
- Graduation Rate: 86%
![Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute](png/rpi.png)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Troy, NY
Academic Highlights: There are five undergraduate schools within the larger university: the School of Architecture; the School of Management; the School of Science; the top-ranked School of Engineering; and the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. A solid 54% of sections contain fewer than 20 students. The most degrees are conferred in engineering (45%) and computer and information sciences (21%). Rensselaer has very strong programs in mechanical, aerospace, computer, electrical, and biomedical engineering as well as physics, architecture, and computer science.
Professional Outcomes: As they receive their diplomas, 54% of RPI grads have already landed a job and 32% have committed to a graduate school. The largest numbers of grads were hired by companies that included Google, Microsoft, Deloitte, General Dynamics, Boeing, and IBM. Massive numbers of alumni hold leadership positions in corporations like Google, Pratt & Whitney, General Motors, GE, and Microsoft. Recent grads enjoy starting salaries in excess of $81k.
- Enrollment: 5,895 (undergraduate); 1,096 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $82,404
- Median SAT: 1440
- Median ACT: 33
- Acceptance Rate: 65%
- Retention Rate: 89%
- Graduation Rate: 84%
![Rice University](png/logos_227757.png)
Rice University
- Houston, TX
Academic Highlights: Rice offers more than 50 majors across six broad disciplines: engineering, architecture, music, social science, humanities, and natural science. Programs in biology, biochemistry, cognitive science, and music are incredibly strong, while the School of Architecture and the George R. Brown School of Engineering are among the highest-ranking schools in their disciplines. One-third of computer science majors are female, almost twice the national average. Class sizes are ideally small with 66% containing fewer than 20 students and a median class size of only fourteen.
Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduation, 88% of Rice grads have found careers or a graduate school home. Companies that employ many recent grads include Deloitte, Capital One, JP Morgan Chase, Google, and Microsoft. Over one hundred alumni are also current employees of companies such as Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Amazon, Accenture, and Meta. Across all majors, the average starting salary is $73k. One-third of graduates move directly into graduate or professional school, with Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT, Columbia, and Berkeley being the most popular destinations.
- Enrollment: 4,494 (undergraduate); 4,178 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $78,278
- Median SAT: 1530
- Median SAT: 35
- Acceptance Rate: 9%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 98%
![Georgia Institute of Technology](png/georgia-tech.png)
Georgia Institute of Technology
- Atlanta, GA
Academic Highlights: Georgia Tech’s engineering and computer science programs are at the top of any “best programs” list. Being a large research university, the student-to-faculty ratio is a less-than-ideal 22:1, leading to some larger undergraduate class sections. In fact, 49% of courses had enrollments of more than thirty students in 2022-23. On the other end of the spectrum, 8% of sections had single-digit enrollments. In terms of total number of degrees conferred, the most popular areas of study are engineering (51%), computer science (21%), and business (9%).
Professional Outcomes: More than three-quarters of recent grads had already procured employment by the time they were handed their diplomas. You will find graduates at every major technology company in the world. The median salary reported by that group was $80,000. Many remain on campus to earn advanced engineering degrees through Georgia Tech, but the school’s reputation is such that gaining admission into other top programs including MIT, Carnegie Mellon, Berkeley, Stanford, and Caltech.
- Enrollment: 18,416
- Cost of Attendance: $29,950 (In-State); $52,120 (Out-of-State)
- Median SAT: 1470
- Median ACT: 33
- Acceptance Rate: 17%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 93%
![Northwestern University](png/nu-seal.png)
Northwestern University
- Evanston, IL
Academic Highlights: Northwestern is home to six undergraduate schools, including Medill, which is widely regarded as one of the country’s best journalism schools. The McCormick School of Engineering also achieves top rankings, along with programs in economics, social policy, and theatre. The social sciences account for the greatest number of degrees conferred (19%), followed by communications/journalism (13%), and engineering (11%). 45% of classes have nine or fewer students enrolled; 78% have fewer than twenty enrollees. 57% of recent grads had the chance to conduct undergraduate research.
Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduating, 69% of the Class of 2022 had found employment and 27% were in graduate school. The four most popular professional fields were consulting (18%), engineering (18%), business/finance (16%), and communications/marketing/media (13%). Employers included the BBC, NBC News, The Washington Post, NPR, Boeing, Google, IBM, Deloitte, PepsiCo, Northrop Grumman, and Goldman Sachs. Across all majors, the average starting salary was $73k. Of those headed straight to graduate school, engineering, medicine, and business were the three most popular areas of concentration.
- Enrollment: 8,659 (undergraduate); 14,073 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $91,290
- Median SAT: 1530
- Median ACT: 34
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 97%
![Cornell University](png/cornell.png)
Cornell University
- Ithaca, NY
Academic Highlights: A diverse array of academic programs includes 80 majors and 120 minors spread across the university’s seven schools/colleges. Classes are a bit larger at Cornell than at many other elite institutions. Still, 55% of sections have fewer than 20 students. Most degrees conferred in 2022 were in computer science (17%), engineering (13%), business (13%), and biology (13%). The SC Johnson College of Business houses two undergraduate schools, both of which have phenomenal reputations.
Professional Outcomes: Breaking down the graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences, the largest school at Cornell, 68% entered the workforce, 28% entered graduate school, 1% pursued other endeavors such as travel or volunteer work, and the remaining 3% were still seeking employment six months after receiving their diplomas. The top sectors attracting campus-wide graduateswere financial services (18%), technology (17%), consulting (15%), and education (10%). Of the students from A&S going on to graduate school, 15% were pursuing JDs, 5% MDs, and 22% PhDs.
- Enrollment: 15,735
- Cost of Attendance: $88,150
- Median SAT: 1520
- Median ACT: 34
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
![Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering](jpg/olin-college-logo.jpg)
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering
- Needham, MA
Academic Highlights: Perhaps the most highly-regarded school of its size in the entire United States, The Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering was founded in the early 2000s as an experimental, cutting-edge training ground for budding engineers. Many classes are taught in a studio environment to encourage collaboration, and a number of courses are co-taught by professors from different disciplines. Classes are generally reasonably small; 51% of class sections contain fewer than twenty students. The school boasts a terrific 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Professional Outcomes: For a school exclusively graduating engineers, it isn’t a surprise that alumni tend to find good-paying jobs. The average starting salary for recent graduates is in excess of $93,000. Over the past decade, the companies employing the greatest number of alumni are Google, Microsoft, athenahealth, Apple, and Amazon. Olin College of Engineering undergrads have gone on to prestigious graduate engineering programs in impressive numbers. Since 2006, more than twenty graduates have gone to Stanford, MIT, and Harvard.
- Enrollment: 386
- Cost of Attendance: $86,474
- Median SAT: 1520
- Median ACT: 35
- Acceptance Rate: 19%
- Retention Rate: 99%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
![University of Pennsylvania](png/logos_215062.png)
University of Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA
Academic Highlights: 90 distinct degrees are available across four schools: the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Applied Science and Engineering, the College of Nursing, and the world-renowned Wharton School. The greatest number of students pursue degrees in business (19%), social sciences (14%), biology (11%), health sciences (9%), engineering (9%), and computer science (9%). The university boasts an exceptional 26% of courses with an enrollment under ten and 59% with an enrollment under twenty as well as multiple ways for undergrads to conduct research.
Professional Outcomes: 75% of Class of 2022 grads were employed within six months of graduating, and 18% were in graduate school. Finance attracted the highest percentage of grads (30%) followed by consulting (20%), technology (15%), and healthcare (10%). Employers hiring the greatest number of 2022 grads included JPMorgan, Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey, Bain & Company, Meta, and Goldman Sachs. The median starting salary for all graduates is $80,000. For those continuing their educational journeys, the most popular move is to remain at Penn, followed by Columbia and Harvard.
- Enrollment: 9,760 (undergraduate); 13,614 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $89,028
- Median SAT: 1540
- Median ACT: 35
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 96%
![United States Military Academy](jpg/6b7458b72082e1adc0195eaff0a010e6-e1708029252615.jpg)
United States Military Academy
- West Point, NY
Academic Highlights: There are 37 majors at West Point, and students must conquer a minimum of 13 courses within their area of study as well as 24-27 courses in West Point’s core academic program. Almost 98% of class sections at West Point enroll fewer than 20 students, and plenty of research opportunities exist within each department. West Point is one of the best undergraduate engineering colleges in the country and has standout programs in civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.
Professional Outcomes: West Point graduates must honor their eight-year military commitment (five years of active duty, three in the reserves), and many continue their military careers beyond those requirements. When they do enter the workforce, large numbers of alumni land at Amazon, Microsoft, Deloitte, Meta, Google, ExxonMobil, Johnson & Johnson, McKinsey & Company, and Goldman Sachs, with mean mid-career pay in excess of $125,000. With military duties to fulfill, only a small percentage of cadets matriculate directly into graduate programs.
- Enrollment: 4,393
- Cost of Attendance: $0
- Median SAT: 1350
- Median ACT: 30
- Acceptance Rate: 12%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 88%
![University of California, Berkeley](png/logos_110635.png)
University of California, Berkeley
- Berkeley, CA
Academic Highlights: More than 150 undergraduate majors and minors are available across six schools: the College of Letters and Science, the College of Chemistry, the College of Engineering, the College of Environmental Design, the College of Natural Resources, and the Haas School of Business. Many departments have top international reputations including computer science, engineering, chemistry, English, psychology, and economics. 22% of sections contain nine or fewer students, and over 55% of students assist faculty with a research project or complete a research methods course.
Professional Outcomes: Upon graduating, 49% of Cal’s Class of 2022 had already secured employment, and 20% were headed to graduate school. Business is the most popular sector, attracting 62% of employed grads; next up are industrial (17%), education (8%), and nonprofit work (7%). The median starting salary was $86,459 across all majors. Thousands of alumni can be found in the offices of Google, Apple, and Meta, and 500+ Golden Bears are currently employed by Oracle, Amazon, and Microsoft. The school is the number one all-time producer of Peace Corps volunteers.
- Enrollment: 32,831 (undergraduate); 12,914 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $48,574 (in-state); $82,774 (out-of-state)
- Median SAT: Test Blind
- Median ACT: Test Blind
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
![Colorado School of Mines](jpg/colorado-school-of-mines-logo.jpg)
Colorado School of Mines
- Golden, CO
Academic Highlights: There are around 20 bachelor of science degree options to choose from as well as additional areas of specialization. Classes are rarely small as Mines possesses a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1. The average class has 34 students, and only 27% of sections have an enrollment under twenty. The largest number of degrees are conferred in mechanical engineering and petroleum engineering. In fact, 78% of all earned degrees are classified under the engineering umbrella.
Professional Outcomes: Members of the Class of 2022 landed industry jobs or full-time graduate school positions at a clip of 93%. Companies employing massive numbers of Mines’ grads include Lockheed Martin, BP, ExxonMobil, Halliburton, Chevron, and Shell. Those finding employment enjoyed an average starting salary of $81,000. Nineteen percent of freshly printed diploma-holders directly enter graduate school, and the most popular institution is Mines itself, which is the choice of 82% of those pursuing advanced degrees.
- Enrollment: 5,733
- Cost of Attendance: $42,062 (In-State); $65,252 (Out-of-State)
- Median SAT: 1400
- Median ACT: 31
- Acceptance Rate: 58%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 81%
![Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology](jpg/rose-hulman-institute-of-technology-rhit8257-e1708988375295.jpg)
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
- Terre Haute, IN
Academic Highlights: Rose-Hulman offers 22 undergraduate degree programs. The average class size is twenty, and 94% of sections are smaller than 29 students. The engineering major accounts for 66% of all degrees conferred, and there’s a good reason for its popularity; this program is viewed among the best by prospective employers and graduate schools nationwide. Unique undergraduate engineering programs include optical engineering and international computer science; CS, in general, is the second-most popular degree program (20%).
Professional Outcomes: With six months of exiting, an enviable 99% of 2022 grads had landed at their next destination, whether employment or graduate school. Top employers of recent graduates included Boston Scientific, Cook Group, Texas Instruments, Caterpillar, Honeywell, and Rolls Royce. Raytheon, Microsoft, and Eli Lilly also have a strong alumni representation. The average first-year salary across all majors was $80k; CS majors took home $89k. 21% of 2022 grads immediately enrolled in graduate school at universities like Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, and Duke.
- Enrollment: 2,235 (undergraduate); 15 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $77,890
- Median SAT: 1460
- Median ACT: 34
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 82%
![Lehigh University](jpg/lehigh-logo.jpg)
Lehigh University
- Bethlehem, PA
Academic Highlights: Lehigh has a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, but classes aren’t as tiny as one might expect with such favorable staffing numbers. The average class size is 26 but, on the plus side, 45% of courses have enrollments of 19 or fewer. Undergraduate research is commonplace. With a highly ranked engineering school, it’s easy to view Lehigh as primarily a techie haven. Surprisingly, the majority of students pursue other programs, with Lehigh’s well-regarded business school drawing the most majors (29%); 22% graduate with a degree in engineering and 12% study CS.
Professional Outcomes: Recent grads quickly found its way toward the next productive step in their lives with 97% landing jobs or grad school placements within six months of leaving Lehigh. Among graduates of the School of Business and Economics, the top industries entered were financial services, accounting, consulting, and computer software. The average starting salary for a recent grad is $67,000. Among recent diploma-earners heading straight to graduate school, roughly 30% were studying engineering, one-quarter were pursuing business degrees, 10% were training for health professions.
- Enrollment: 5,624
- Cost of Attendance: $72,000
- Median SAT: 1410
- Median ACT: 32
- Acceptance Rate: 37%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
![Stevens Institute of Technology](jpg/fe1e323165ef4f5b8267458d29dc2fc8-e1708729500473.jpg)
Stevens Institute of Technology
- Hoboken, NJ
Academic Highlights: There are 35 undergraduate majors at Stevens across four undergraduate schools: the top-rated Schaefer School of Engineering & Science, the School of Business, the College of Arts and Letters, and the School of Systems and Enterprises. 49% of course sections contain fewer than 20 students. Engineering is, by far, the most common undergraduate major. Programs in computer science, cybersecurity, and quantitative finance also receive praise. Over 80% of degrees granted are in a STEM field, and most of the remaining grads major in business, finance, and accounting.
Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 97% of the Class of 2022 found employment or graduate school homes; most students entered the fields of finance (29%), technology (17%), aerospace/defense (9%), and construction (6%). The greatest number of recent grads landed at Google, EY, Merck, Prudential, and PwC. Massive numbers of alumni can also be found at Verizon, Citi, JPMorgan Chase, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson. The average starting salary was $79,600. Of the 33% who immediately enrolled in graduate school, the vast majority were pursuing master’s or PhDs.
- Enrollment: 4,070 (undergraduate); 5,244 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $81,922
- Median SAT: 1450
- Median ACT: 33
- Acceptance Rate: 46%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 88%
![University of Florida](png/logos_134130.png)
University of Florida
- Gainesville, FL
Academic Highlights: With 16 colleges and 100 undergraduate majors to choose from, educational experiences are exceptionally diverse. The Warrington College of Business and the Wertheim College of Engineering are highly respected, so it’s no surprise that those two programs confer the greatest percentage of degrees—12% and 14%, respectively. Biology (11%), the social sciences (11%), and health professions (8%) are next in popularity. 53% of sections enroll fewer than 20 students, and 33% of students partake in an undergraduate research experience.
Professional Outcomes: By graduation day, 66% of the Class of 2022 had already procured a first job. The top occupational areas were engineering (13%), health care (13%), computer science (5%), and marketing (4%). 200+ Gator alumni can be found at top corporations like Google, EY, Raymond James, Deloitte, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Oracle, and PwC. The average salary for all 2022 grads was $69k, with a high of $100k for computer science majors. Of those pursuing advanced degrees, a master’s degree was the most popular pursuit (63%) followed by law school (11%).
- Enrollment: 34,552 (undergraduate); 20,659 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $23,530 (in-state); $45,808 (out-of-state)
- Median SAT: 1400
- Median ACT: 31
- Acceptance Rate: 23%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 90%
![Columbia University](jpg/columbia-u-logo.jpg)
Columbia University
- New York, NY
Academic Highlights: Columbia offers 100+ unique areas of undergraduate study as well as a number of pre-professional and accelerated graduate programs. Class sizes at Columbia are reasonably small and the student-to-faculty ratio is favorable; however, in 2022, it was revealed that the university had been submitting faulty data in this area. It is presently believed that 58% of undergraduate courses enroll 19 or fewer students. The greatest number of degrees are conferred in the social sciences (22%), computer science (15%), engineering (14%), and biology (7%).
Professional Outcomes: Examining the most recent graduates from Columbia College and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering & Applied Science, 73% had found employment within six months, and 20% had entered graduate school. The median starting salary for graduates of Columbia College/Columbia Engineering is above $80,000. Many graduates get hired by the likes of Amazon, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Google, Citi, McKinsey, and Microsoft.
- Enrollment: 8,832
- Cost of Attendance: $89,587
- Median SAT: 1540
- Median ACT: 35
- Acceptance Rate: 4%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
![Harvard University](jpg/harvard-logo.jpg)
Harvard University
- Cambridge, MA
Academic Highlights: There are 50 undergraduate fields of study referred to as concentrations; many are interdisciplinary. Even with a graduate population of over 14,000 to cater to, undergraduate class sizes still tend to be small, with 42% of sections having single-digit enrollments and 71% being capped at nineteen. Economics, government, and computer science are the three most popular areas of concentration at Harvard. Biology, chemistry, physics, math, statistics, sociology, history, English, and psychology all sit atop most departmental ranking lists.
Professional Outcomes: The Crimson Class of 2022 saw 15% of students head directly into graduate/professional school. Of the graduates entering the world of work (virtually everyone else), 58% were entering either the consulting, finance, or technology field. Over 1,000 Harvard alumni presently work for Google and over 500 for Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, and Goldman Sachs. Turning our attention to those moving on to graduate school, Harvard grads with at least a 3.5 GPA typically enjoy acceptance rates into medical school of 90% or greater.
- Enrollment: 7,240
- Cost of Attendance: $79,450
- Median SAT: 1550
- Median ACT: 35
- Acceptance Rate: 3%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 98%
![University of Maryland, College Park](png/university-of-maryland-logo-e1707449124975.png)
University of Maryland, College Park
- College Park, MD
Academic Highlights: Undergraduates can select from 100+ majors across twelve colleges. 18% of degrees are conferred in computer science, followed by the social sciences (13%), with criminology, government and politics, and economics being the most popular majors. Engineering (13%), business (11%), and biology (8%) are next in line. The School of Business, the School of Engineering, and the College of Journalism are all top-ranked, as are programs in computer science and criminology. 46% of sections enroll fewer than twenty students.
Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 96% of Class of 2022 grads had positive outcomes. 67% found employment; the companies/organizations that hired the greatest number of grads included Northrop Grumman, Deloitte, Amazon, and EY. Meta, Apple, and Google employ more than 200 alumni each. The mid-50% salary range for 2022 grads was $55k-$83k. 21% of the Class of 2022 headed directly to graduate and professional school; 11% entered doctoral programs, 5% entered medical school, and 5% entered law school.
- Enrollment: 30,353 (undergraduate); 10,439 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $31,540 (in-state); $60,918 (out-of-state)
- Median SAT: 1440
- Median ACT: 33
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 89%
![Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](png/logos_233921.png)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Blacksburg, VA
Academic Highlights: Eight undergraduate colleges that offer 110+ distinct bachelor’s degrees are housed within Virginia Tech. 33% of sections contain fewer than 20 students, and 21% of recent graduates report participating in some type of undergraduate research experience. Engineering is the area where the greatest number of degrees are conferred (23%), but business (20%) is a close second. Both disciplines are among the most respected at Tech, along with computer science. Other popular majors include the family and consumer sciences (8%), social sciences (8%), biology (8%), and agriculture (4%).
Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 56% of the Class of 2022 were employed and 18% were in graduate school. One recent class sent large numbers to major corporations that included Deloitte (67), KPMG (44), Lockheed Martin (39), Capital One (30), EY (28), Booz Allen Hamilton (18), and Northrop Grumman (12). The median salary for 2022 graduates was $67,000. Among recent grads who decided to pursue an advanced degree, the greatest number stayed at VT, while others enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University, George Mason University, William & Mary, Columbia, Duke, and Georgia Tech.
- Enrollment: 30,434 (undergraduate); 7,736 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $37,252 (in-state); $58,750 (out-of-state)
- Median SAT: 1330
- Median ACT: 29
- Acceptance Rate: 57%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 87%
![The University of Texas at Austin](png/logos_228778.png)
The University of Texas at Austin
- Austin, TX
Academic Highlights: UT Austin offers over 150 majors, including those at the Cockrell School of Engineering, one of the most heralded undergraduate engineering schools around, and The McCombs School of Business, which dominates in the specialty areas of accounting and marketing. The computer science department is also top-ranked. In terms of degrees conferred, engineering is tied with biology (12%) followed by communication (11%), business (11%), and the social sciences (8%). The elite Plan II Honors Program is one of the best in the country.
Professional Outcomes: Within the College of Liberal Arts, six months after graduating, 68% of Longhorns are employed and 24% have entered graduate school. The for-profit sector attracts 65% of those employed while 19% enter public sector employment and 16% pursue jobs at a nonprofit. Major corporations that employ more than 500 UT Austin grads include Google, Meta, Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, and Apple. Engineering majors took home a median income of $79k and business majors took home $70k.
- Enrollment: 41,309 (undergraduate); 11,075 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $30,752-$34,174 (in-state); $61,180-$69,310 (out-of-state)
- Median SAT: 1430
- Median ACT: 32
- Acceptance Rate: 31%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 88%
![Purdue University — West Lafayette](png/purdue-university-logo-e1709184132842.png)
Purdue University — West Lafayette
- West Lafayette, IN
Academic Highlights: Purdue offers over 200 majors at ten discipline-specific colleges, and 38% of course sections have an enrollment of 19 or fewer. Engineering and engineering technologies majors earn 34% of the degrees conferred by the university; the College of Engineering cracks the top ten on almost every list of best engineering schools. The Krannert School of Management is also well-regarded by employers; 11% of degrees conferred are in business. Other popular majors include computer science (10%) and agriculture (5%)—both are incredibly strong.
Professional Outcomes: Shortly after receiving their diplomas, 70% of 2022 grads headed to the world of employment while 24% headed to graduate/professional school. The top industries entered by grads in recent years are (1) health care, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices; (2) finance, insurance, and consulting; (3) manufacturing and machinery; (4) airline, aviation, and aerospace. Companies employing the greatest number of recent alumni were Amazon, Deloitte, PepsiCo, Labcorp, Lockheed Martin, and Microsoft. The average starting salary was $68k across all degree programs.
- Enrollment: 37,949 (undergraduate); 12,935 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $22,812 (in-state); $41,614 (out-of-state)
- Median SAT: 1330
- Median ACT: 31
- Acceptance Rate: 53%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 84%
![Pennsylvania State University — University Park](png/penn-state-university.png)
Pennsylvania State University — University Park
- State College, PA
Academic Highlights: Penn State offers 275 majors and a number of top-ranked programs in a host of disciplines. The College of Engineering is rated exceptionally well on a national scale and is also the most popular field of study, accounting for 15% of the degrees conferred. The Smeal College of Business is equally well-regarded, earning high rankings in everything from supply chain management to accounting to marketing. It attracts 15% of total degree-seekers. 61% of classes have an enrollment below thirty students.
Professional Outcomes: By graduation, 70% of Nittany Lions have found their next employment or graduate school home. 98% of College of Business grads are successful within three months of exiting, flocking in large numbers to stellar finance, accounting, consulting, and technology firms. Hundreds of alumni work at Citi, Salesforce, and Meta, and more than 500 currently work at each of IBM, Deloitte, PwC, Amazon, EY, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, Google, and Oracle. 75% of 2022 grads employed full-time earned starting salaries greater than $50k.
- Enrollment: 41,745 (undergraduate); 7,020 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $32,656 (in-state); $52,610 (out-of-state)
- Median SAT: 1300
- Median ACT: 29
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
![Lafayette College](jpg/lafayette-logo.jpg)
Lafayette College
- Easton, PA
Academic Highlights: Lafayette offers 51 areas of study over four academic divisions: engineering, humanities, natural sciences, and the social sciences. One-on-one attention from professors is a reality at Lafayette, thanks to a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio and no graduate students to compete with. A solid 62% of sections contain fewer than twenty students; 11% enroll nine or fewer. Of the degrees conferred in 2022, social sciences (34%) and engineering (19%) were the disciplines in which the largest number of degrees were earned.
Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, a stellar 98% of the Class of 2022 had already landed full-time jobs or were enrolled in graduate/professional school. Companies employing large numbers of Lafayette alumni include Merck, IBM, Morgan Stanley, Citi, Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan Chase Co., Deloitte, and EY. Those attending graduate school frequently land at some of the top programs in the country within their respective disciplines. Medical school applicants with a 3.6 GPA or above enjoy a 72% acceptance rate, and dental school candidates find homes at an 89% clip.
- Enrollment: 2,729
- Cost of Attendance: $84,402
- Median SAT: 1400
- Median ACT: 31
- Acceptance Rate: 34%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 89%
![University of California, San Diego](png/ucsd.png)
University of California, San Diego
- San Diego, CA
Academic Highlights: There are 140+ undergraduate majors offered at UCSD, and all students join one of eight undergraduate colleges meant to forge flourishing communities within the larger university. Biology has the highest representation of all majors (19%) followed by engineering (12%), the social sciences (11%), and computer science (9%). UCSD’s computer science and engineering programs have stellar reputations in the corporate and tech communities, and programs in biology, economics, and political science are among the best anywhere.
Professional Outcomes: Employers of recent graduates included the Walt Disney Company, Tesla, NBC Universal, PwC, Northrop Grumman, and EY. More than 1,000 current Google employees are UC San Diego alumni, and Qualcomm, Amazon, and Apple all employ 500+ each. The median early career salary is $65,000 across all majors, placing the university in the top 10 public universities in the country. UCSD also fares well in measures of its return-on-investment potential.
- Enrollment: 33,096 (undergraduate); 8,386 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $31,830 (in-state); $64,404 (out-of-state)
- Median SAT: Test Blind
- Median ACT: Test Blind
- Acceptance Rate: 25%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 88%
![University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](png/logos_145637.png)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Champaign-Urbana, IL
Academic Highlights: Eight of UIUC’s fifteen schools cater to undergraduate students. There are 150 academic programs offered, including those at the acclaimed Grainger College of Engineering and Gies College of Business. In sheer volume of degrees conferred, engineering and business/marketing are tied at 19%, followed by the social sciences (9%) and psychology (6%). 39% of sections are capped at 19 students. 29% of undergraduates work with a faculty member on a research project; another 22% have some type of fieldwork, practicum, or clinical experience.
Professional Outcomes: 95% of the members of the Class of 2022 landed at their next destination within six months of graduation, with 38% matriculating directly into an advanced degree program. 57% were employed full-time; the most popular sectors were finance, consulting, healthcare, electronics, and education. Corporations landing the most recent Illini grads were KPMG, Deloitte, Epic Systems, EY, PwC, and Amazon. The average salary across all Class of 2022 majors was an extremely solid $75,000.
- Enrollment: 35,120 (undergraduate); 21,796 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $35,926-$41,190 (in-state); $55,386-$63,290 (out-of-state)
- Median SAT: 1440
- Median ACT: 32
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
![New Jersey Institute of Technology](jpg/njit-logo.jpg)
New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Newark, NJ
Academic Highlights: There are 125 undergraduate and graduate majors on the menu at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Sporting a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio, the school is able to offer 32% of course sections with a cap of 19 students and only 4% enroll more than 50 individuals. Engineering is the most popular major accounting for 40% of all degrees conferred in 2022. Next on the list were computer science (28%), engineering technologies (11%), biology (5%), and business (5%).
Professional Outcomes: Recent grads enjoyed an 85% employment rate within six months of earning their diploma and another 5% entered graduate school; 6% were still searching for their next step. The average starting salary is $67,852. Employers of 200+ alumni include Merck, JP Morgan Chase and Co., Bristol Myers Squibb, Verizon, Johnson & Johnson, Prudential, Citi, Amazon Web Services, Bank of America, and Microsoft.
- Enrollment: 9,019
- Cost of Attendance: $41,352 (In-State); $58,264 (Out-of-State)
- Median SAT: 1320
- Median ACT: 30
- Acceptance Rate: 66%
- Retention Rate: 89%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
![University of California, Los Angeles](png/ucla.png)
University of California, Los Angeles
- Los Angeles, CA
Academic Highlights: UCLA offers 125 majors in 100+ academic departments, and more than 60 majors require a capstone experience that results in the creation of a tangible product under the mentorship of faculty members. The most commonly conferred degrees are in the social sciences (25%), biology (16%), psychology (11%), mathematics (8%), and engineering (7%). Departmental rankings are high across the board, especially in computer science, engineering, film, fine and performing arts, mathematics, and political science.
Professional Outcomes: UCLA grads flow most heavily into the research, finance, computer science, and engineering sectors. High numbers of recent grads can be found at Disney, Google, EY, Teach for America, Amazon, and Oracle. Hundreds also can be found at Bloomberg, Deloitte, Mattel, Oracle, and SpaceX. The average starting salary exceeds $55,000. 16% of recent grads enrolled directly in a graduate/professional school, with other CA-based institutions like Stanford, Pepperdine, USC, Berkeley, and Loyola Marymount being the most popular.
- Enrollment: 33,040 (undergraduate); 15,010 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $38,517 (in-state); $71,091 (out-of-state)
- Median SAT: Test Blind
- Median ACT: Test Blind
- Acceptance Rate: 9%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 93%
![Boston University](png/boston_university_seal.png)
Boston University
- Boston, MA
Academic Highlights: In total, the university offers more than 300 programs of study, 100+ of which are distinct undergraduate degrees spread across ten schools/colleges. Many classes at BU are reasonably small—60% contain fewer than twenty students; only 19% contain more than forty. The student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1. The greatest number of degrees are conferred in social sciences (16%), business/marketing (15%), communications and journalism (15%), biology (11%), engineering (9%), and health professions/related sciences (7%).
Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduation, 90% of BU grads have found their way into the world of employment or full-time graduate study. Across all graduating years, companies employing more than 350 BU alums include Google, Oracle, Accenture, IBM, and Amazon Web Services. Of the one-quarter of grads who move directly into graduate school, many are welcomed onto the campuses of elite graduate programs. For example, engineering students found new academic homes at MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, and Columbia.
- Enrollment: 18,459
- Cost of Attendance: $86,363
- Median SAT: 1430
- Median ACT: 32
- Acceptance Rate: 14%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 89%
![Texas A&M University — College Station](jpg/61wi-w9wnyl-e1708625960147.jpg)
Texas A&M University — College Station
- College Station, TX
Academic Highlights: With nineteen schools and colleges and 130+ undergraduate degree programs, Texas A&M is a massive operation. As the name implies, there is a heavy emphasis on agriculture, engineering, and business, which all place well in national rankings and garner deep respect from major corporations and graduate/professional schools. Class sizes trend large, but 24% of courses enroll fewer than 20 students and personal connections with professors are entirely possible, particularly through the research-oriented LAUNCH program.
Professional Outcomes: On graduation day, 54% of students had already received at least one job offer and 22% were heading to graduate/professional school. Many Aggies go on to work at major oil, tech, and consulting firms; more than 500 are employed at each of ExxonMobil, Halliburton, Chevron, EY, Amazon, Microsoft, Intel, Accenture, and PWC. Starting salaries were strong—on average, College of Engineering grads made $80k and College of Agriculture & Life Sciences grads netted $54k. A&M is also the eighth-largest producer of law students in the entire country.
- Enrollment: 57,512 (undergraduate); 16,502 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $31,058 (in-state); $59,336 (out-of-state)
- Median SAT: 1270
- Median ACT: 28
- Acceptance Rate: 63%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 84%
![The Ohio State University — Columbus](jpg/the_ohio_state_university_logo-e1709247372322.jpg)
The Ohio State University — Columbus
- Columbus, OH
Academic Highlights: There are 200+ undergraduate majors and 18 schools and colleges housed within OSU. Business sees the greatest percentage of degrees conferred at 18% followed by engineering (15%), health professions (10%), and the social sciences (9%). It makes sense that so many flock to the business and engineering schools as they are among the highest-rated undergraduate programs in their respective disciplines. 40% of sections enroll fewer than 20 students, and approximately 20% of students gain research experience.
Professional Outcomes: Upon receiving their diplomas, 56% of Class of 2022 graduates were entering the world of employment while 17% were already accepted into graduate or professional school. Hordes of Buckeyes can be found at many of the nation’s leading companies. More than 2,000 alumni work for JPMorgan Chase, more than 1,000 are employed by Amazon, and more than 600 work for Google and Microsoft. Of the grads who directly matriculate into graduate or professional school, many continue in one of OSU’s own programs.
- Enrollment: 45,728 (undergraduate); 14,318 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $27,241 (in-state); $52,747 (out-of-state)
- Median SAT: 1340-1450
- Median ACT: 29-32
- Acceptance Rate: 53%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 88%
![University of Wisconsin – Madison](png/university-of-wisconsin-madison.png)
University of Wisconsin – Madison
- Madison, WI
Academic Highlights: There are 230+ undergraduate majors offered across eight schools and colleges, including the top-ranked School of Business and College of Engineering as well as the College of Letters and Science, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and the Schools of Nursing, Education, Pharmacy, and Human Ecology. Undergrads can expect a mix of large and small classes, with 44% of sections enrolling fewer than 20 students. Business (18%), biology (12%), the social sciences (11%), and engineering (10%) are most popular.
Professional Outcomes: In a recent year, 46% of job-seeking grads graduated with an offer. Top employers included UW-Madison, Epic, Kohl’s, Oracle, Deloitte, and UW Health. Across all graduating years, companies employing 250+ alumni include Google, Target, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, PwC, Accenture, and Meta. 28% of recent grads enrolled directly in graduate/professional school; the majority stayed at UW–Madison while others headed to Columbia, Northwestern, and Carnegie Mellon. The university is the top producer of Peace Corps volunteers.
- Enrollment: 37,230 (undergraduate); 12,656 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $28,916 (in-state); $58,912 (out-of-state)
- Median SAT: 1440
- Median ACT: 30
- Acceptance Rate: 49%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 89%
![Clemson University](png/clemson.png)
Clemson University
- Clemson, SC
Academic Highlights: There are seven undergraduate colleges within the larger university. Class sizes are mixed, and many sections are smaller than you would expect for such a large university where the student-to-faculty ratio is 16:1. Fifteen percent of classes have single-digit enrollments, and 55% contain fewer than 30 students. Business and engineering also the most popular majors with a 21% and 18% market share of diplomas, respectively. The next most frequently conferred degrees are in biology (9%), the social sciences (7%), and health professions (7%).
Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 92% of 2022 grads had already entered the working world or were pursuing a graduate degree. The top employers of newly-minted diploma holders include Michelin, Amazon, Vanguard, and Wells Fargo. Computing and Applied Sciences reported a median starting salary of $62,000. College of Business graduates enjoyed median earnings of $60,000. Of the 19% of recent graduates directly entering grad school, the largest number retained their Tiger stripes by continuing their studies at Clemson.
- Enrollment: 22,566
- Cost of Attendance:
- Median SAT: 1310
- Median ACT: 30
- Acceptance Rate: 43%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
![Case Western Reserve University](jpg/cwru-logo.jpg)
Case Western Reserve University
- Cleveland, OH
Academic Highlights: Sporting a 9:1 faculty-to-student ratio, the university does a nice job keeping classes on the small side, with 50% of course sections capped at nineteen and only 13% of courses having fifty students or more. The Weatherhead School of Management and the Case School of Engineering have stellar reputations within the worlds of employment and academia. Engineering is the most commonly conferred undergraduate degree at 27% followed by biology (15%), computer science (10%), and health professions (8%).
Professional Outcomes: Fifty-six percent of 2022 CWRU graduates head into the world of professional employment upon receiving their diplomas; only 3% were still looking for work six months after leaving the university. More than half of the Class of 2022 enjoyed a starting salary of at least $65,000. The employers of the greatest number of graduates included Accenture, Microsoft, Deloitte, and Google. In 2022, four or more grads were accepted to continue their studies at the likes of NYU, Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, WashU, and the University of Michigan.
- Enrollment: 6,017
- Cost of Attendance: $88,516
- Median SAT: 1480
- Median ACT: 33
- Acceptance Rate: 27%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 86%
![University of Connecticut](png/2560px-university_of_connecticut_logo.svg-e1707763420715.png)
University of Connecticut
- Storrs, CT
Academic Highlights: UConn is home to fourteen schools and colleges as well as 115+ undergraduate majors. The four most commonly conferred undergraduate degrees are in business (15%), engineering (12%), the social sciences (12%), and health professions/nursing (12%). In terms of prestige and national reputation, programs in business, pharmacy, and nursing carry a good deal of weight. The school also does a nice job of creating a balance of classroom experiences—53% of sections enroll fewer than 20 students and only 18% contain more than fifty.
Professional Outcomes: 90% of the Class of 2022 experienced a positive outcome (job, grad school, military, volunteer position) within six months of earning their degrees. Among the 59% who found employment, the largest numbers landed at Aetna, Cigna, PwC, The Hartford, Travelers, and Raytheon Technologies; the median starting salary was $62,400. Massive numbers of alumni are employed by Pratt & Whitney, Pfizer, IBM, and Deloitte. 30% of 2022 graduates immediately entered a graduate or professional program, with many choosing to stay at UConn.
- Enrollment: 18,983 (undergraduate); 8,020 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $41,606 (in-state); $64,478 (out-of-state)
- Median SAT: 1340
- Median ACT: 30
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 83%
![Clarkson University](jpg/clarkson-logo.jpg)
Clarkson University
- Potsdam, NY
Academic Highlights: There are more than 50 programs in engineering, business, the arts, education, and sciences and health professions. A student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1 translates to reasonable undergraduate class sizes. Fifty-eight percent of sections enroll fewer than 20 students, but there are also 50-100+ students in some introductory courses. An overwhelming 63% of undergraduate degrees conferred are in engineering and 6% are in biology. The School of Engineering is fully recognized by big-time employers well outside the region.
Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, the Class of 2022 enjoyed a job/grad school placement rate of 96% and an average starting salary of $69,024. Annually, 170+ employers snatch up Clarkson seniors. Top employers include BAE Systems, IBM, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, and Pratt & Whitney. Only 15% of Class of 2022 members were pursuing advanced degrees immediately after completing their undergraduate education. Recent students were admitted into graduate schools like Duke, MIT, Cornell, and NYU.
- Enrollment: 2,668
- Cost of Attendance: $76,000
- Median SAT: 1290
- Median ACT: 27
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 79%
![Vanderbilt University](png/logos_221999.png)
Vanderbilt University
- Nashville, TN
Academic Highlights: Four of Vandy’s ten schools cater to undergrads: the College of Arts and Sciences, the Blair School of Music, the Peabody College of Education and Human Development, and the School of Engineering. In the 2022-23 school year, 87% of course sections contained 19 or fewer students. Of the 70 undergraduate majors, economics, politics and government, and neuroscience are the most popular. The School of Engineering has a strong national reputation as do offerings in biology, economics, education, and music.
Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduating, 96% of the Class of 2021 were employed or in graduate school. The most commonly entered industry was finance followed by technology, consulting, education, and engineering. Alumni can be found in droves at Capital One, Goldman Sachs, Bain & Company, JP Morgan Chase, Citi, and Meta. Among 2022 alumni who directly pursued advanced degrees, the majority enrolled at Vanderbilt followed by Columbia, Harvard, Penn, NYU, and Northwestern.
- Enrollment: 7,151 (undergraduate); 6,559 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $89,590
- Median SAT: 1530
- Median ACT: 35
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 93%
![North Carolina State University](jpg/brick2x2-e1709314775865.jpg)
North Carolina State University
- Raleigh, NC
Academic Highlights: NC State offers more than 100 majors and 120 minors. 64% of sections enroll 29 or fewer students. Engineering is the most popular area of concentration as 24% of Class of 2022 graduates earned a degree in that field. Business/marketing comes in second at 17% followed by biology (10%) and agriculture (7%). NC State has an exceptional regional reputation and an expanding national one with the College of Engineering near the top of many rankings. Programs in design, architecture, and animal science are also very strong.
Professional Outcomes: 54% of students graduating in 2022 had already accepted full-time jobs before exiting; 27% were heading to graduate/professional school. Members of that class reported an average starting salary of $62,024 (with a slightly higher median). Including all graduating years, the companies employing the largest number of alumni are Cisco, Red Hat, SAS, IBM, Lenovo, Amazon, Microsoft, Intel, Google, Deloitte, Facebook, and Salesforce. Many recent grads also work for the university itself and for the Wake County Public School System.
- Enrollment: 26,254 (undergraduate); 10,446 (graduate)
- Cost of Attendance: $27,451 (in-state); $51,662 (out-of-state)
- Median SAT: 1340
- Median ACT: 28
- Acceptance Rate: 47%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 86%
![Cal Poly San Luis Obispo](png/cal-poly-emblem.png)
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
- San Luis Obispo
Academic Highlights: Across all divisions, there are 60+ majors and 80+ minors offered. The majority of courses–59%–fall between twenty and forty students. Cal Poly’s student-to-faculty ratio is a high 18:1, but such is the cost of an uber-affordable STEM degree from an excellent institution. Over one-quarter of all degrees conferred (22%) are in engineering, and Cal Poly gets recognition in many specialty areas of the field including industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, computer engineering, and civil engineering.
Professional Outcomes: Within nine months of graduating, 91% of graduates are “positively engaged” in their next life activity. Top employers of Cal Poly grads include many of the top tech, consulting, engineering, and financial firms in the country such as Google, Deloitte, KPMG, Microsoft, Northrop Grumman, Adobe, EY, and Apple. Overall, grads enjoy a terrific median starting salary of $72,000. Of the 14% of alumni who directly enter graduate school, the six most commonly attended schools are all in California.
- Enrollment: 20,963
- Cost of Attendance: $32,000 (in-state); $53,000 (out-of-state)
- Median SAT: 1337
- Median ACT: 30
- Acceptance Rate: 30%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 87%
We hope you have found our list of the Best Colleges for Mechanical Engineering to be useful and informative as you continue your college search process. We also invite you to check out some of our other resources and tools including:
- AP Score Calculators
- SAT Score Calculator
- ACT Score Calculator
- Best Summer Programs
- College List Building Tool