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Engineering: Mechanical Engineering Focus
Katie Schenk - November 17, 2019
Looking for specific answers about a mechanical engineering programme?
Want to get your master’s degree in mechanical engineering (either MS or ME) in the United States? Hoping to get an H-1B visa after your degree for additional work experience in the country?
There are plenty of opportunities and the sector is set to grow at least 4% between 2018 and 2028.
How much do mechanical engineers earn in the US?
According to PayScale.com, MS and ME degree holders had the potential for wide ranging salaries in 2018, depending on their positions (and, of course pre-study experience).
- Mechanical Engineer: $62,032 - $98,649
- Mechanical Design Engineer: $73,436
- Senior Mechanical Engineer: $70,823 - $116,563
- Project Engineer: $77,000
- Design Engineer: $73,456
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put the 2016 median pay (across degrees) at $87,370 per year, with a mean annual salary of $92,800.
The industries with the highest salaries, according to the BLS, are:
- Oil and Gas Extraction: $126,880
- Waste Treatment and Disposal: $120,200
- Remediation and Other Waste Management Services: $109,560
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing: $108,980
- Spectator Sports: $107,110
Where do mechanical engineers work in the US?
In case you’re wondering as you browse the employers that recruit MS and ME mechanical engineers on university campuses, the states employing the highest numbers of mechanical engineers are:
- Michigan
- California
- Texas
- Illinois
- Pennsylvania
That might help you determine the best programme for your studies as you consider some of the top schools below.
Top mechanical engineering masters programmes in the US
Want to learn more about the top MS and Meng mechanical engineering programmes in the US? Take a look at their rankings, degrees, estimated cost of attendance and the companies recruiting on their campuses.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - School of Engineering
Cambridge (Boston), Massachusetts | Northeast
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 1
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 1
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $96,580
- Degrees available:
- Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (MEngEE)
- Electrical Engineer (EE) Degree
- Take a look at companies recruiting MIT engineering graduates.
Stanford University - Stanford School of Engineering
Stanford (San Francisco), California | West
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 2
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 1
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $101,108
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Take a look at companies recruiting Stanford graduates.
University of California Berkeley - School of Engineering
Berkeley (San Francisco), California | West
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 3
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 3
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $60,932
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (MEngME)
California Institute of Technology - School of Engineering and Applied Science
Pasadena (Los Angeles), California | West
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 5
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 4
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $89,062
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Take a look at companies recruiting Caltech graduates.
University of Michigan Ann Arbor - College of Engineering
Ann Arbor, Michigan | Midwest
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 5
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 5
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $72,724
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSE)
Georgia Institute of Technology - College of Engineering
Atlanta, Georgia | South
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 7
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 5
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $50,134
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Offers spring admissions.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - College of Engineering
Urbana, Illinois | Midwest
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 10
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 4
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $50,134
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (M.Eng.ME)
- Offers spring admissions.
- Take a look at companies recruiting Illinois graduates.
Purdue University - College of Engineering
West Lafayette, Indiana| Midwest
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 8
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 8
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $44,908
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Offers spring admissions.
Cornell University - College of Engineering
Ithaca, New York| Northeast
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 14
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 8
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $86,876
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (M.S.ME)
- Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (M.Eng.ME)
- Offers spring admissions.
Carnegie Mellon University - College of Engineering
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Midwest
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 4
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 10
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $73,861
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Offers spring admissions.
Princeton University - School of Engineering and Applied Science
Princeton, New Jersey| Northeast
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 17
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 11
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $85,120
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (M.S.E.ME)
University of Texas Austin - Cockrell School of Engineering
Austin, Texas| West
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 11
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 12
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $39,476
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Occasionally offers spring admissions.
- Take a look at companies recruiting Cockrell graduates.
Northwestern University - Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering
Evanston (Chicago), Illinois| Midwest
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 20
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 12
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $83,098
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
University of California Los Angeles - Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science
Los Angeles, California | West
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 16
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 10
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $73,861
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Take a look at UCLA Career Center partners.
Johns Hopkins University - Whiting School of Engineering
Baltimore, Maryland | Northeast
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 17
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 19
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $74,642
- Degrees available:
- Master of Mechanical Engineering
Pennsylvania State University University Park - College of Engineering
University Park, Pennsylvania | Northeast
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 35
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 14
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $54,000
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (M.S.ME)
- Offers spring admissions.
Columbia University - The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
New York, New York | Northeast
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 11
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 17
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $87,335
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Take a look at companies recruiting Columbia graduates.
University of California San Diego - Jacobs School of Engineering
San Diego, California | West
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 11
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 17
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $57,162
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Take a look at companies recruiting UC San Diego graduates.
Texas A&M University - Dwight Look College of Engineering
College Station, Texas | West
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 15
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 17
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $40,672
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (MEngME)
- Offers spring admissions.
- Take a look at companies recruiting Texas A&M graduates.
University of Pennsylvania - School of Engineering and Applied Science
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Northeast
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 17
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 17
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $80,206
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MSMEAM)
University of Wisconsin Madison - College of Engineering
Madison, Wisconsin| Midwest
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 22
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 17
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $45,951
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Offers spring admissions.
- Take a look at companies recruiting Wisconsin Madison graduates.
Virginia Tech - College of Engineering
Blacksburg, Virginia | South
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 31
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 23
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $46,050
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (MEngME)
- Offers spring admissions.
- Take a look at companies recruiting Virginia Tech graduates.
University of Maryland College Park - A. James Clark School of Engineering
College Park (Washington DC), Maryland | Northeast
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 22
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 24
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $43,132
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Offers spring admissions.
- Take a look at companies recruiting Maryland graduates.
Duke University - Pratt School of Engineering
Durham, North Carolina | South
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 24
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 24
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $79,830
- Degrees available:
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (MEngME)
- Offers spring admissions.
- Take a look at companies recruiting Duke graduates.
University of California Santa Barbara - College of Engineering
Santa Barbara, California | West
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 24
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 24
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $54,759
- Degrees available:
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
University of Minnesota Twin Cities - College of Science and Engineering
Minneapolis, Minnesota | Midwest
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 27
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 24
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $47,164
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
Ohio State University - College of Engineering
Columbus, Ohio | Midwest
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 27
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 29
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $55,152
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Take a look at companies recruiting Ohio State graduates.
Rice University - George R. Brown School of Engineering
Houston, Texas | West
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 27
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 29
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $67,714
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (M.S.M.E.)
- Master of Mechanical Engineering (M.M.E.)
- Occasionally offers spring admissions.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - School of Engineering
Troy, New York | Northeast
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 41
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 29
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $74,306
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Master of Mechanical Engineering (MEngME)
- Occasionally offers spring admissions.
- Take a look at companies recruiting Rensselaer graduates.
University of Florida - Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering
Gainesville, Florida | South
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 45
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 29
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $48,234
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (M.S.ME)
- Master of Mechanical Engineering (M.E.ME)
- Offers spring admissions.
University of Southern California - Viterbi School of Engineering
Los Angeles, California | West
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 9
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 33
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $84,307
- Degrees available:
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Offers spring admissions.
- Take a look at companies recruiting Viterbi graduates.
University of Colorado Boulder - College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Boulder, Colorado | West
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 31
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 33
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $57,346
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (M.S.ME)
- Master of Mechanical Engineering (M.E.ME)
- Offers spring admissions.
University of Washington - College of Engineering
Seattle, Washington | West
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 27
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 36
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $54,219
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Take a look at companies recruiting U of Washington graduates.
North Carolina State University - College of Engineering
Raleigh, North Carolina| South
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 24
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 37
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $47,473
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Offers spring admissions.
- Take a look at companies recruiting NC State graduates.
University of California Davis - College of Engineering
Davis (Sacramento), California | West
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 31
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 37
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $53,082
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
University of California Irvine - Henry Samueli School of Engineering
Irvine (Los Angeles), California | West
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 36
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 37
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $65,064
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Take a look at companies recruiting UC Irvine graduates.
Vanderbilt University - School of Engineering
Nashville, Tennessee | South
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 39
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 37
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $57,757
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (M.S.ME)
- Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (M.E.ME)
- Offers spring admissions.
- Take a look at companies recruiting Vanderbilt graduates.
Iowa State University - College of Engineering
Ames, Iowa | Midwest
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 41
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 37
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $44,902
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (MEME)
- Offers spring admissions.
University of Notre Dame - College of Engineering
Notre Dame, Indiana | Midwest
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 47
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 37
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $76,280
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
Northeastern University - College of Engineering
Boston, Massachusetts | Northeast
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 34
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 43
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $44,784
- Degrees available:
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Offers spring admissions.
- Take a look at companies recruiting Northeastern graduates.
University of Virginia - School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Charlottesville, Virginia | South
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 41
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 43
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $50,532
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (MEME)
- Offers spring admissions.
Arizona State University - Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
Tempe, Arizona | West
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 44
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 43
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $48,555
- Degrees available:
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Offers spring admissions.
- Take a look at companies recruiting ASU graduates.
Case Western Reserve University - Case School of Engineering
Cleveland, Ohio | Midwest
- USNWR engineering programme rank: 52
- USNWR mechanical department rank: 43
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $67,737
- Degrees available:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
- Offers spring admissions.
- Take a look at companies recruiting Case Western graduates.
Found the mechanical engineering programme you want to attend?
Once you've gotten in, we'd love to help you out.
Prodigy Finance Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Post updated for accuracy and freshness on November 17, 2019. Originally published on November 23, 2017.
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