This Mechanical Engineering guest article is by Carly Stockwell.
Mechanical Engineering can be an exciting arena with many possibilities. Individuals who go after a degree in Mechanical Engineering (ME) find out how to produce, assemble and improve machines and machinery. Some of the assignments you may focus on involve creating and operating manufacturing tools, vehicles, robotics, and more!
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment for mechanical engineers are increasing at a normal rate. The quantity of jobs being added over the following ten years is 25,300, and students can obtain most jobs with only an undergraduate degree.
Mechanical Engineering grads generate about $57,800 in the beginning of their careers and $96,400 in the peak of their career. The average pay for this career is over 30% greater than other careers.
Choosing a good ME program can provide you with a leg up on your peers with regards to applying to the best jobs. You will want to find a school with a respected and in-depth program, that is concerned for the success of their students.
Of 269 ME colleges in the country, College Factual reviewed them all using data from the Department of Education to find the top ten in the country! These schools provide quality outcomes to grads and are priced fairly. Salary estimations are made with data from Payscale.
- Carnegie Mellon University
Weighing in at #10 is Carnegie Mellon University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a good choice for scholars who love the thrills of a substantial city. With normal early salaries of $63,000, Carnegie grads make 4% more money than ME grads from other programs.
Carnegie comes with an amazing 10 to 1 student to faculty ratio, meaning students will likely get lots of face time with professors.
- University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor is a wonderful option for individuals considering a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. The school provides a masters in Mechanical engineering as well. This is a well-liked program, with 299 scholars completing it in recent years. It’s no surprise it is well-known, since the typical income grads make in their beginning careers is $63,000 annually.
Students from outside the U.S. don’t have to be concerned about feeling out of place since almost 7% of UMich’s students come from countries outside the United States.
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is located in Troy, New York, a fantastic atmosphere for students who value city life. 190 students graduated from this degree in 2016, making it the most well-attended in the college. The average beginning pay for an RPI grad from the ME program is $60,000, roughly $2,200 more than their peers.
Students should not let concerns about cost prevent them from choosing Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as 93% of students get some sort of financial help.
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic is a private institution, well priced, with a minimal student loan default rate. Graduates of the Worcester ME program earn typical beginning salaries of $63,000 and mid-career salaries of $96,900. ME is also the most well-liked major in the school, with 203 graduates in 2016.
On an annual basis, close to 98% of freshman receive scholarships, with the standard award being $19,400.
- Kettering University
Mechanical engineering is the most well-attended plus the top-rated department at Kettering, which makes it a fantastic choice for college students. 159 scholars completed the program in 2016 and proceeded to take home salary of about $60,000 in the beginning of their occupations.
Graduates of this degree usually do not have problems repaying their debt; only 4% have defaulted on their loans.
- Stanford University
Stanford is a superb decision to get both your undergraduate or grad degree in mechanical engineering. The location of the school is Stanford, California, which is a safe suburb. About 94 students got their ME degree from Stanford in 2016, and they earned typical early career wages of $68,000!
Stanford is a superb value for the money with a low student-loan default rate. The price for most students is $42,300.
- California Institute of Technology
ME students from California Institute of Technology make beginning incomes of $63,000, which is about 13% above the standard earnings of others in the same industry. The environment of Pasadena, California is a great choice for young people who love city-life.
Almost all of Caltech’s educators are full time, 92%, and the student to faculty ratio is a very-low three to one.
- Stevens Institute of Technology
Mechanical engineering is a popular choice at Stevens Institute of Technology with over 150 graduations in 2016. Graduates of the degree earned about $59,000 in the beginning of their career. The school is in Hoboken, New Jersey, which is a peaceful suburb just minutes away from bustling Manhattan, New York.
The school has a better than average 10:1 student to faculty ratio and 65% of the teachers are full time.
- Georgia Institute of Technology – Main Campus
Mechanical Engineering a popular degree at Georgia Tech, with 15% of undergraduate students enrolled in it and more than 500 students a year finishing with this degree! This makes it the largest program in the list. Students will enjoy checking out the big city of Atlanta, Georgia.
87% of the teachers are full time, which is much greater than the U.S. standard of 49%.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mechanical engineering is the 2nd most common major at MIT; 190 students graduated from this degree in 2016, which is 15% of enrolled undergrads. Grads generate about $69,000 in the start of their positions. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, students will enjoy the thrills of city life.
A terrific value, only 2% of grads default on their loans.
Want more? Check out the full ranking of all 269 Mechanical Engineering programs in the U.S., and filter by your ideal location.
About the Author:
Carly Stockwell is the Director of Content at College Factual, a website that helps students find the best college and major for them. Connect with her on twitter @Carlyraes.