Best Mechanical Engineering Degrees

Design your way into a lucrative career with one of the nation's best Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering degrees.

Are you passionate about both the creative and technical aspects of product design? Are you interested in the social, global, economical, and ethical implications of design? Are you a problem solver who never shies away from a challenge?

Then a career in mechanical engineering may be just for you!

What kind of Mechanical Engineering degree should you get?

Each of the programs below will provide a solid foundation in systems design, thermodynamics, manufacturing, and materials science. But each program also varies slightly in its emphasis and model.

For example, while some schools stress the importance of real-world experience, offering internship and co-op programs, others want you to dock as many lab hours as possible. Those schools often offer exhaustive research opportunities.

Though these programs vary, be sure to find a fit that reflects your interests and passions.

You should also consider online or distance learning. Online education, having shed its old stigma, is now a flexible and affordable way to advance your education and career.

Accredited Online College Programs

Explore our featured online programs and find the right match for you today.

Also check out College Choice's Best Online Mechanical Engineering Degrees.

How much money do people make with a Mechanical Engineering degree?

With a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering degree you are set up to work in a diverse range of industries and fields. From corporate business to government agencies, the need for someone who can design successful and economical products continues to rise.

In fact, it's projected that demand for mechanical engineers will rise another 9 percent in the next few years.

The industry is not only stable and growing, but it's lucrative too. Mechanical engineers make, on average,upwards of $84,000 a year. Though that number can leap into triple digits depending on the job title. Senior engineers make close to $133,000 annually.

What are the requirements for a Mechanical Engineering degree?

To earn a BS in Mechanical Engineering degree you will spend at least the first year of your undergrad taking chemistry, physics, and introductory engineering classes. Once those are completed you can dive into specialized engineering classes and their laboratory counterparts. Examples of such courses include:

Thermodynamics
Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer
System Design and Analysis
Manufacturing
And much more

At many schools you can further specialize by pairing your degree with a formal concentration.These vary by school, but include biomechanics, materials processing, manufacturing, thermal and fluid systems, among others.

Finally, many programs encourage you to participate in hands-on experience through paid co-op programs and internships. We've been sure to note those.

What are the best Mechanical Engineering degrees?

Though some of these programs are housed within elite polytechnical schools and others in sprawling research universities, all 35 share one thing in common: they are the nation's best Mechanical Engineering degrees.

To determine the best mechanical engineering degrees we looked at every program across the nation that offers one. We then narrowed the list by incorporating crucial factors, such as reputation and student retention, which is a sign of student satisfaction. Finally, we looked at early salaries of graduates and tuition rates too. What we found after such extensive research are the nation's best programs for training mechanical engineers.

Our figures and information come from the university and colleges' websites, PayScale, and nationally recognized U.S. News & World Report and The National Center for Education Statistics.