100 Best Mechanical Engineering schools in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 44.9M citations received by 1.6M academic papers made by 964 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: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

2. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

3. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

4. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

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: 74%

6. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

7. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Mechanical Engineering

#8 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

8. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Mechanical Engineering

#9 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

9. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Mechanical Engineering

#10 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

10. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Mechanical Engineering

#11 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

11. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Mechanical Engineering

#12 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

12. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Mechanical Engineering

#13 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

13. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Mechanical Engineering

#14 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

14. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Mechanical Engineering

#15 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

15. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Mechanical Engineering

#16 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

16. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Mechanical Engineering

#17 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

17. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Mechanical Engineering

#18 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

18. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Mechanical Engineering

#19 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

19. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Mechanical Engineering

#20 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

20. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Mechanical Engineering

#21 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

21. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Mechanical Engineering

#22 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

22. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Mechanical Engineering

#24 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

23. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Mechanical Engineering

#25 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

24. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Mechanical Engineering

#26 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

25. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Mechanical Engineering

#27 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

26. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Mechanical Engineering

#28 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

27. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Mechanical Engineering

#29 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

28. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Mechanical Engineering

#30 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

29. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Mechanical Engineering

#31 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

30. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Mechanical Engineering

#34 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

31. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Mechanical Engineering

#35 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

32. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Mechanical Engineering

#36 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

33. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Mechanical Engineering

#37 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

34. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Mechanical Engineering

#38 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

35. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Mechanical Engineering

#40 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

36. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Mechanical Engineering

#41 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

37. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Mechanical Engineering

#43 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

38. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Mechanical Engineering

#44 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

39. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Mechanical Engineering

#45 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

40. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Mechanical Engineering

#46 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

41. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Mechanical Engineering

#47 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

42. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Mechanical Engineering

#49 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

43. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Mechanical Engineering

#50 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

44. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Mechanical Engineering

#51 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

45. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Mechanical Engineering

#52 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

46. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Mechanical Engineering

#53 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

47. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Mechanical Engineering

#54 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

48. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Mechanical Engineering

#55 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

49. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Mechanical Engineering

#56 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

50. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Mechanical Engineering

#57 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

51. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Mechanical Engineering

#58 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

52. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Mechanical Engineering

#60 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

53. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Mechanical Engineering

#61 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

54. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Mechanical Engineering

#62 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

55. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Mechanical Engineering

#63 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

56. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Mechanical Engineering

#64 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

57. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Mechanical Engineering

#65 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

58. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Mechanical Engineering

#66 in North America

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

59. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Mechanical Engineering

#67 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,902

60. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Mechanical Engineering

#68 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

61. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Mechanical Engineering

#69 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

62. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Mechanical Engineering

#70 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,127

63. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Mechanical Engineering

#71 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,263

64. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Mechanical Engineering

#73 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

65. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Mechanical Engineering

#74 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

66. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Mechanical Engineering

#75 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

67. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Mechanical Engineering

#76 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

68. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Mechanical Engineering

#77 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

69. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Mechanical Engineering

#78 in North America

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

70. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Mechanical Engineering

#79 in North America

#239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

71. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Mechanical Engineering

#80 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 85%

72. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Mechanical Engineering

#81 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

73. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Mechanical Engineering

#83 in North America

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $39,267

74. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Mechanical Engineering

#84 in North America

#257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

75. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Mechanical Engineering

#85 in North America

#260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

76. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Mechanical Engineering

#86 in North America

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

77. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Mechanical Engineering

#88 in North America

#267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

78. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Mechanical Engineering

#89 in North America

#269 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

79. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Mechanical Engineering

#92 in North America

#275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

80. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Mechanical Engineering

#93 in North America

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

81. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Mechanical Engineering

#95 in North America

#294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

82. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Mechanical Engineering

#96 in North America

#295 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,260
Enrollment: 34,292

83. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Mechanical Engineering

#98 in North America

#301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

84. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Mechanical Engineering

#100 in North America

#304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,253
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1963

85. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Mechanical Engineering

#101 in North America

#306 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

86. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Mechanical Engineering

#102 in North America

#309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $11,830
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,182

87. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Mechanical Engineering

#103 in North America

#311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $22,042
Enrollment: 26,809

88. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Mechanical Engineering

#104 in North America

#320 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $10,689
Enrollment: 27,539

89. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Mechanical Engineering

#105 in North America

#327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1272
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 98%

90. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Mechanical Engineering

#106 in North America

#329 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

91. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Mechanical Engineering

#107 in North America

#331 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

92. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Mechanical Engineering

#108 in North America

#334 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

93. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Mechanical Engineering

#109 in North America

#335 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,651

94. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Mechanical Engineering

#110 in North America

#336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

95. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Mechanical Engineering

#111 in North America

#337 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

96. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Mechanical Engineering

#112 in North America

#342 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,827

97. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Mechanical Engineering

#113 in North America

#343 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 79%

98. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Mechanical Engineering

#114 in North America

#352 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%

99. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Mechanical Engineering

#115 in North America

#356 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

100. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Mechanical Engineering

#116 in North America

#360 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,931
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.