Best Universities for Mechanical Engineering in North America

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Mechanical Engineering. A graph of 66.4M citations received by 2.08M academic papers made by 1,105 universities in North America was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

2. Stanford University

United States | California

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

3. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in the United States

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

4. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

6. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in the United States

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

7. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in the United States

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

8. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Canada

#11 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

9. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Mechanical Engineering

#8 in the United States

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

10. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Mechanical Engineering

#9 in the United States

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

11. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Mechanical Engineering

#10 in the United States

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

12. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Mechanical Engineering

#11 in the United States

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

13. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Mechanical Engineering

#12 in the United States

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

14. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Mechanical Engineering

#13 in the United States

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

15. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Mechanical Engineering

#14 in the United States

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

16. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Mechanical Engineering

#15 in the United States

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

17. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Mechanical Engineering

#16 in the United States

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

18. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Mechanical Engineering

#17 in the United States

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

19. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Mechanical Engineering

#18 in the United States

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

20. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Mechanical Engineering

#19 in the United States

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

21. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Mechanical Engineering

#20 in the United States

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

22. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Mechanical Engineering

#21 in the United States

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

23. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Mechanical Engineering

#22 in the United States

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

24. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Canada

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 71,201
Founded: 1908

25. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Mechanical Engineering

#23 in the United States

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

26. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Mechanical Engineering

#24 in the United States

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

27. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Mechanical Engineering

#25 in the United States

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

28. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Mechanical Engineering

#26 in the United States

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

29. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Mechanical Engineering

#27 in the United States

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

30. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Mechanical Engineering

#28 in the United States

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

31. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Mechanical Engineering

#29 in the United States

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

32. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Mechanical Engineering

#30 in the United States

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

33. New York University

United States | New York State

For Mechanical Engineering

#31 in the United States

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

34. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Canada

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

35. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Mechanical Engineering

#32 in the United States

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

36. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in Canada

#70 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

37. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in Canada

#73 in the World

Founded: 1957

38. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Mechanical Engineering

#33 in the United States

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

39. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Mechanical Engineering

#34 in the United States

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

40. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in Canada

#81 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

41. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Mechanical Engineering

#35 in the United States

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

42. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Mechanical Engineering

#36 in the United States

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

43. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Mechanical Engineering

#37 in the United States

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

44. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Mechanical Engineering

#38 in the United States

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

45. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Mechanical Engineering

#39 in the United States

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

46. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Mechanical Engineering

#40 in the United States

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

47. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in Canada

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

48. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Mechanical Engineering

#41 in the United States

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

49. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Mechanical Engineering

#42 in the United States

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

50. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Mechanical Engineering

#43 in the United States

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

51. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Mechanical Engineering

#44 in the United States

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

52. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Mechanical Engineering

#45 in the United States

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

53. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Mechanical Engineering

#46 in the United States

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

54. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Mechanical Engineering

#47 in the United States

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

55. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Mechanical Engineering

#48 in the United States

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

56. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Mechanical Engineering

#49 in the United States

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

57. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Mechanical Engineering

#50 in the United States

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

58. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Mechanical Engineering

#8 in Canada

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

59. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Mechanical Engineering

#51 in the United States

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

60. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Mechanical Engineering

#52 in the United States

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

61. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Mechanical Engineering

#53 in the United States

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

62. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Mechanical Engineering

#54 in the United States

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

63. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Mechanical Engineering

#55 in the United States

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

64. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Mechanical Engineering

#56 in the United States

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

65. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Mechanical Engineering

#57 in the United States

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

66. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Mechanical Engineering

#58 in the United States

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

67. Rice University

United States | Texas

For Mechanical Engineering

#59 in the United States

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,587

68. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Mechanical Engineering

#60 in the United States

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

69. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Mechanical Engineering

#61 in the United States

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

70. Tulane University of Louisiana

United States | Louisiana

For Mechanical Engineering

#62 in the United States

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,631

71. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Mechanical Engineering

#9 in Canada

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

72. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Mechanical Engineering

#63 in the United States

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

73. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Mechanical Engineering

#64 in the United States

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

74. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Mechanical Engineering

#65 in the United States

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

75. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

United States | New York State

For Mechanical Engineering

#66 in the United States

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $35,940

76. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Mechanical Engineering

#67 in the United States

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

77. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Mechanical Engineering

#68 in the United States

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

78. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Mechanical Engineering

#69 in the United States

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

79. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Mechanical Engineering

#70 in the United States

#241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

80. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Mechanical Engineering

#71 in the United States

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

81. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Mechanical Engineering

#10 in Canada

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

82. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Mechanical Engineering

#11 in Canada

#249 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

83. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Mechanical Engineering

#72 in the United States

#250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

84. Washington State University

United States | Washington

For Mechanical Engineering

#73 in the United States

#253 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $10,370
Enrollment: 26,490

85. Clemson University

United States | South Carolina

For Mechanical Engineering

#74 in the United States

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 84%

86. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

United States | Minnesota

For Mechanical Engineering

#75 in the United States

#260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $11,577
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,900

87. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Mechanical Engineering

#76 in the United States

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

88. Drexel University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Mechanical Engineering

#77 in the United States

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,342

89. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Mechanical Engineering

#78 in the United States

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

90. Wayne State University

United States | Michigan

For Mechanical Engineering

#79 in the United States

#268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

91. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Mechanical Engineering

#80 in the United States

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

92. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Mechanical Engineering

#81 in the United States

#271 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

93. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

United States | New York State

For Mechanical Engineering

#82 in the United States

#280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,234
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1963

94. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Mechanical Engineering

#12 in Canada

#283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

95. University of Central Florida

United States | Florida

For Mechanical Engineering

#83 in the United States

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

96. Concordia University

Canada | Quebec State

For Mechanical Engineering

#13 in Canada

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1974

97. Oregon State University

United States | Oregon

For Mechanical Engineering

#84 in the United States

#294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $9,922
Enrollment: 35,622

98. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Mechanical Engineering

#14 in Canada

#297 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

99. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

United States | Colorado

For Mechanical Engineering

#85 in the United States

#302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

100. University of Manitoba

Canada | Manitoba

For Mechanical Engineering

#15 in Canada

#303 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 29,800
Founded: 1877

Engineering subfields in North America

Acoustical Engineering915

Aerospace Engineering860

Agricultural Engineering103

Applied/Engineering Physics270

Architectural Engineering265

Architecture239

Automation and Control engineering263

Automotive Engineering329

Aviation264

Biochemical Engineering201

Biomedical Engineering312

Biotechnology505

Chemical Engineering675

Civil Engineering619

Computer Engineering328

Computer Networking878

Construction Management213

Electrical Engineering917

Electronic Engineering533

Engineering Management386

Environmental Engineering398

Firefighting and Fire Science196

Geotechnical Engineering552

Human-Computer Interaction512

Industrial Engineering189

Landscape Architecture158

Marine Engineering215

Materials Science1198

Metallurgical Engineering910

Mining Engineering174

Nanotechnology643

Nuclear Engineering196

Operations Research383

Optical Engineering1060

Petroleum Engineering256

Polymer science and Plastics engineering210

Product and Industrial Design222

Reliability and Quality Engineering321

Remote Sensing399

Renewable Energy Engineering273

Robotics269

Structural Engineering696

Systems Engineering605

Technical Drawing194

Telecommunications859

Transportation Engineering319