100 Best Mechanical Engineering schools in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Mechanical Engineering. A graph of 58.9M citations received by 1.82M academic papers made by 1,030 universities in the United States 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

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

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

2. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

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

6. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

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

7. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in North America

#10 in the World

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

8. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Mechanical Engineering

#9 in North America

#13 in the World

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

9. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Mechanical Engineering

#10 in North America

#15 in the World

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

10. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Mechanical Engineering

#11 in North America

#16 in the World

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

11. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Mechanical Engineering

#12 in North America

#17 in the World

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

12. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Mechanical Engineering

#13 in North America

#19 in the World

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

13. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Mechanical Engineering

#14 in North America

#24 in the World

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

14. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Mechanical Engineering

#15 in North America

#25 in the World

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

15. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Mechanical Engineering

#16 in North America

#26 in the World

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

16. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Mechanical Engineering

#17 in North America

#28 in the World

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

17. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Mechanical Engineering

#18 in North America

#31 in the World

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

18. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Mechanical Engineering

#19 in North America

#32 in the World

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

19. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Mechanical Engineering

#20 in North America

#33 in the World

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

20. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Mechanical Engineering

#21 in North America

#34 in the World

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

21. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Mechanical Engineering

#22 in North America

#37 in the World

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

22. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Mechanical Engineering

#23 in North America

#39 in the World

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

23. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Mechanical Engineering

#25 in North America

#42 in the World

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

24. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Mechanical Engineering

#26 in North America

#43 in the World

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

25. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Mechanical Engineering

#27 in North America

#49 in the World

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

26. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Mechanical Engineering

#28 in North America

#53 in the World

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

27. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Mechanical Engineering

#29 in North America

#55 in the World

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

28. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Mechanical Engineering

#30 in North America

#56 in the World

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

29. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Mechanical Engineering

#31 in North America

#57 in the World

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

30. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Mechanical Engineering

#32 in North America

#60 in the World

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

31. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Mechanical Engineering

#33 in North America

#62 in the World

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

32. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Mechanical Engineering

#35 in North America

#67 in the World

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

33. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Mechanical Engineering

#38 in North America

#74 in the World

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

34. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Mechanical Engineering

#39 in North America

#79 in the World

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

35. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Mechanical Engineering

#41 in North America

#82 in the World

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

36. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Mechanical Engineering

#42 in North America

#84 in the World

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

37. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Mechanical Engineering

#43 in North America

#85 in the World

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

38. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Mechanical Engineering

#44 in North America

#86 in the World

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

39. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Mechanical Engineering

#45 in North America

#89 in the World

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

40. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Mechanical Engineering

#46 in North America

#91 in the World

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

41. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Mechanical Engineering

#48 in North America

#93 in the World

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

42. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Mechanical Engineering

#49 in North America

#94 in the World

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

43. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Mechanical Engineering

#50 in North America

#96 in the World

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

44. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Mechanical Engineering

#51 in North America

#107 in the World

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

45. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Mechanical Engineering

#52 in North America

#111 in the World

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

46. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Mechanical Engineering

#53 in North America

#113 in the World

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

47. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Mechanical Engineering

#54 in North America

#116 in the World

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

48. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Mechanical Engineering

#55 in North America

#120 in the World

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

49. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Mechanical Engineering

#56 in North America

#128 in the World

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

50. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Mechanical Engineering

#57 in North America

#133 in the World

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

51. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Mechanical Engineering

#59 in North America

#143 in the World

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

52. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Mechanical Engineering

#60 in North America

#148 in the World

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

53. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Mechanical Engineering

#61 in North America

#150 in the World

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

54. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Mechanical Engineering

#62 in North America

#151 in the World

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

55. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Mechanical Engineering

#63 in North America

#158 in the World

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

56. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Mechanical Engineering

#64 in North America

#176 in the World

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

57. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Mechanical Engineering

#65 in North America

#181 in the World

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

58. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Mechanical Engineering

#66 in North America

#185 in the World

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

59. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Mechanical Engineering

#67 in North America

#188 in the World

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

60. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Mechanical Engineering

#68 in North America

#191 in the World

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

61. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Mechanical Engineering

#69 in North America

#194 in the World

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

62. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Mechanical Engineering

#70 in North America

#197 in the World

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

63. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Mechanical Engineering

#72 in North America

#201 in the World

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

64. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Mechanical Engineering

#73 in North America

#206 in the World

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

65. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Mechanical Engineering

#74 in North America

#209 in the World

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

66. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Mechanical Engineering

#75 in North America

#217 in the World

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

67. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Mechanical Engineering

#76 in North America

#225 in the World

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

68. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Mechanical Engineering

#77 in North America

#233 in the World

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

69. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Mechanical Engineering

#78 in North America

#234 in the World

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

70. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Mechanical Engineering

#79 in North America

#241 in the World

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

71. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Mechanical Engineering

#80 in North America

#244 in the World

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

72. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Mechanical Engineering

#83 in North America

#250 in the World

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

73. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Mechanical Engineering

#84 in North America

#253 in the World

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

74. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Mechanical Engineering

#85 in North America

#254 in the World

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

75. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Mechanical Engineering

#86 in North America

#260 in the World

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

76. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Mechanical Engineering

#87 in North America

#261 in the World

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

77. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Mechanical Engineering

#88 in North America

#263 in the World

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

78. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Mechanical Engineering

#89 in North America

#266 in the World

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

79. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Mechanical Engineering

#90 in North America

#268 in the World

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

80. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Mechanical Engineering

#91 in North America

#270 in the World

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

81. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Mechanical Engineering

#92 in North America

#271 in the World

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

82. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Mechanical Engineering

#93 in North America

#280 in the World

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

83. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Mechanical Engineering

#95 in North America

#289 in the World

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

84. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Mechanical Engineering

#97 in North America

#294 in the World

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

85. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Mechanical Engineering

#99 in North America

#302 in the World

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

86. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Mechanical Engineering

#101 in North America

#307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

87. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Mechanical Engineering

#102 in North America

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,770

88. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Mechanical Engineering

#103 in North America

#314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $21,566
Enrollment: 26,426

89. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Mechanical Engineering

#104 in North America

#315 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

90. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Mechanical Engineering

#105 in North America

#322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 97%

91. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Mechanical Engineering

#106 in North America

#327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

92. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Mechanical Engineering

#107 in North America

#328 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $14,643

93. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Mechanical Engineering

#109 in North America

#333 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

94. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Mechanical Engineering

#110 in North America

#344 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $51,520

95. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Mechanical Engineering

#111 in North America

#349 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

96. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Mechanical Engineering

#112 in North America

#354 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 81%

97. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Mechanical Engineering

#113 in North America

#356 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1264
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 98%

98. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Mechanical Engineering

#114 in North America

#357 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

99. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Mechanical Engineering

#116 in North America

#362 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,564
Enrollment: 19,764

100. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Mechanical Engineering

#118 in North America

#366 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,667
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

The best cities to study Mechanical Engineering in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Stanford, Berkeley, and Ann Arbor.