Best Universities for Mechanical Engineering in North America

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 69.7M citations received by 2.12M academic papers made by 1,111 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: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

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: $25,078

3. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

4. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in the United States

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

6. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in the United States

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

7. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

8. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Canada

#12 in the World

Enrollment: 102,431
Founded: 1827

9. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Mechanical Engineering

#8 in the United States

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
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: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

11. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Mechanical Engineering

#10 in the United States

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

12. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Mechanical Engineering

#11 in the United States

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

13. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Mechanical Engineering

#12 in the United States

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

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: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

15. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Mechanical Engineering

#14 in the United States

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

16. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Mechanical Engineering

#15 in the United States

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

17. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Mechanical Engineering

#16 in the United States

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

18. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Mechanical Engineering

#17 in the United States

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

19. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Mechanical Engineering

#18 in the United States

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

20. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Mechanical Engineering

#19 in the United States

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

21. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Mechanical Engineering

#20 in the United States

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

22. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Mechanical Engineering

#21 in the United States

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

23. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Mechanical Engineering

#22 in the United States

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

24. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Canada

#40 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: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

26. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Mechanical Engineering

#24 in the United States

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

27. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Mechanical Engineering

#25 in the United States

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

28. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Mechanical Engineering

#26 in the United States

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

29. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Mechanical Engineering

#27 in the United States

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

30. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Mechanical Engineering

#28 in the United States

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

31. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Mechanical Engineering

#29 in the United States

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

32. New York University

United States | New York State

For Mechanical Engineering

#30 in the United States

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

33. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Mechanical Engineering

#31 in the United States

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

34. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Canada

#68 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

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

36. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in Canada

#72 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

37. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in Canada

#74 in the World

Founded: 1957

38. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Mechanical Engineering

#33 in the United States

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

39. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Mechanical Engineering

#34 in the United States

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

40. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in Canada

#82 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

41. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Mechanical Engineering

#35 in the United States

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

42. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Mechanical Engineering

#36 in the United States

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

43. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Mechanical Engineering

#37 in the United States

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

44. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Mechanical Engineering

#38 in the United States

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

45. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in Canada

#92 in the World

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

46. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Mechanical Engineering

#39 in the United States

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

47. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Mechanical Engineering

#40 in the United States

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

48. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Mechanical Engineering

#41 in the United States

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

49. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Mechanical Engineering

#42 in the United States

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

50. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Mechanical Engineering

#43 in the United States

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

51. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Mechanical Engineering

#44 in the United States

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

52. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Mechanical Engineering

#45 in the United States

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

53. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Mechanical Engineering

#46 in the United States

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

54. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Mechanical Engineering

#47 in the United States

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

55. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Mechanical Engineering

#48 in the United States

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

56. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Mechanical Engineering

#49 in the United States

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

57. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Mechanical Engineering

#50 in the United States

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

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

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

60. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Mechanical Engineering

#52 in the United States

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

61. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Mechanical Engineering

#53 in the United States

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

62. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Mechanical Engineering

#54 in the United States

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

63. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Mechanical Engineering

#55 in the United States

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

64. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Mechanical Engineering

#56 in the United States

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
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

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

66. Rice University

United States | Texas

For Mechanical Engineering

#58 in the United States

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,589

67. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Mechanical Engineering

#59 in the United States

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

68. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Mechanical Engineering

#60 in the United States

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

69. Tulane University of Louisiana

United States | Louisiana

For Mechanical Engineering

#61 in the United States

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $47,427

70. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Mechanical Engineering

#62 in the United States

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

71. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Mechanical Engineering

#9 in Canada

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 35,612
Founded: 1841

72. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Mechanical Engineering

#63 in the United States

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

73. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Mechanical Engineering

#64 in the United States

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

74. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Mechanical Engineering

#65 in the United States

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

75. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

United States | New York State

For Mechanical Engineering

#66 in the United States

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1443
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,887

76. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Mechanical Engineering

#67 in the United States

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

77. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Mechanical Engineering

#68 in the United States

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

78. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Mechanical Engineering

#69 in the United States

#242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

79. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Mechanical Engineering

#70 in the United States

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

80. Washington State University

United States | Washington

For Mechanical Engineering

#71 in the United States

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

81. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Mechanical Engineering

#72 in the United States

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

82. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Mechanical Engineering

#10 in Canada

#250 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

83. Drexel University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Mechanical Engineering

#73 in the United States

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

84. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Mechanical Engineering

#11 in Canada

#253 in the World

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

85. Clemson University

United States | South Carolina

For Mechanical Engineering

#74 in the United States

#257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

86. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Mechanical Engineering

#75 in the United States

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

87. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

United States | Minnesota

For Mechanical Engineering

#76 in the United States

#262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

88. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Mechanical Engineering

#77 in the United States

#268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

89. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Mechanical Engineering

#78 in the United States

#272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

90. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Mechanical Engineering

#79 in the United States

#273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

91. Wayne State University

United States | Michigan

For Mechanical Engineering

#80 in the United States

#278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

92. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Mechanical Engineering

#81 in the United States

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

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: 1,261
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1963

94. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Mechanical Engineering

#12 in Canada

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

95. Concordia University

Canada | Quebec State

For Mechanical Engineering

#13 in Canada

#291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1974

96. University of Central Florida

United States | Florida

For Mechanical Engineering

#83 in the United States

#292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

97. Oregon State University

United States | Oregon

For Mechanical Engineering

#84 in the United States

#297 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

98. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Mechanical Engineering

#14 in Canada

#298 in the World

Enrollment: 56,000
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: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

100. University of Manitoba

Canada | Manitoba

For Mechanical Engineering

#15 in Canada

#307 in the World

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

Engineering subfields in North America

Acoustical Engineering918

Aerospace Engineering864

Agricultural Engineering99

Applied/Engineering Physics276

Architectural Engineering270

Architecture241

Automation and Control engineering267

Automotive Engineering334

Aviation255

Biochemical Engineering201

Biomedical Engineering317

Biotechnology510

Chemical Engineering678

Civil Engineering627

Computer Engineering328

Computer Networking887

Construction Management216

Electrical Engineering923

Electronic Engineering537

Engineering Management395

Environmental Engineering401

Firefighting and Fire Science199

Geotechnical Engineering556

Human-Computer Interaction525

Industrial Engineering185

Landscape Architecture161

Marine Engineering218

Materials Science1207

Metallurgical Engineering921

Mining Engineering176

Nanotechnology652

Nuclear Engineering200

Operations Research383

Optical Engineering1067

Petroleum Engineering258

Polymer science and Plastics engineering200

Product and Industrial Design223

Reliability and Quality Engineering325

Remote Sensing404

Renewable Energy Engineering281

Robotics270

Structural Engineering702

Systems Engineering613

Technical Drawing198

Telecommunications868

Transportation Engineering321