100 Best Mechanical Engineering schools in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 61.8M citations received by 1.85M academic papers made by 1,036 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: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

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: $25,078

3. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

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

4. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

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

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

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

6. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

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

7. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in North America

#11 in the World

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

8. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Mechanical Engineering

#9 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

9. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Mechanical Engineering

#10 in North America

#15 in the World

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

10. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Mechanical Engineering

#11 in North America

#18 in the World

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

11. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Mechanical Engineering

#12 in North America

#19 in the World

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

12. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Mechanical Engineering

#13 in North America

#20 in the World

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

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: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

14. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Mechanical Engineering

#15 in North America

#25 in the World

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

15. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Mechanical Engineering

#16 in North America

#26 in the World

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

16. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Mechanical Engineering

#17 in North America

#29 in the World

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

17. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Mechanical Engineering

#18 in North America

#32 in the World

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

18. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Mechanical Engineering

#19 in North America

#33 in the World

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

19. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Mechanical Engineering

#20 in North America

#34 in the World

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

20. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Mechanical Engineering

#21 in North America

#35 in the World

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

21. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Mechanical Engineering

#22 in North America

#38 in the World

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

22. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Mechanical Engineering

#23 in North America

#39 in the World

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

23. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Mechanical Engineering

#25 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

24. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Mechanical Engineering

#26 in North America

#43 in the World

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

25. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Mechanical Engineering

#27 in North America

#50 in the World

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

26. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Mechanical Engineering

#28 in North America

#55 in the World

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

27. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Mechanical Engineering

#29 in North America

#56 in the World

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

28. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Mechanical Engineering

#30 in North America

#57 in the World

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

29. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Mechanical Engineering

#31 in North America

#61 in the World

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

30. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Mechanical Engineering

#32 in North America

#64 in the World

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

31. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Mechanical Engineering

#33 in North America

#67 in the World

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

32. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Mechanical Engineering

#35 in North America

#71 in the World

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

33. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Mechanical Engineering

#38 in North America

#75 in the World

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

34. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Mechanical Engineering

#39 in North America

#79 in the World

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

35. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Mechanical Engineering

#41 in North America

#83 in the World

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

36. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Mechanical Engineering

#42 in North America

#85 in the World

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

37. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Mechanical Engineering

#43 in North America

#87 in the World

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

38. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Mechanical Engineering

#44 in North America

#89 in the World

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

39. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Mechanical Engineering

#46 in North America

#93 in the World

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

40. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Mechanical Engineering

#47 in North America

#95 in the World

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

41. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Mechanical Engineering

#48 in North America

#98 in the World

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

42. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Mechanical Engineering

#49 in North America

#100 in the World

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

43. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Mechanical Engineering

#50 in North America

#102 in the World

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

44. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Mechanical Engineering

#51 in North America

#109 in the World

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

45. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Mechanical Engineering

#52 in North America

#113 in the World

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

46. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Mechanical Engineering

#53 in North America

#117 in the World

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

47. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Mechanical Engineering

#54 in North America

#118 in the World

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

48. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Mechanical Engineering

#55 in North America

#123 in the World

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

49. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Mechanical Engineering

#56 in North America

#129 in the World

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

50. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Mechanical Engineering

#57 in North America

#136 in the World

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

51. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Mechanical Engineering

#59 in North America

#144 in the World

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

52. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Mechanical Engineering

#60 in North America

#153 in the World

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

53. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Mechanical Engineering

#61 in North America

#159 in the World

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

54. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Mechanical Engineering

#62 in North America

#164 in the World

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

55. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Mechanical Engineering

#63 in North America

#168 in the World

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

56. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Mechanical Engineering

#64 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

57. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Mechanical Engineering

#65 in North America

#184 in the World

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

58. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Mechanical Engineering

#66 in North America

#190 in the World

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

59. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Mechanical Engineering

#67 in North America

#191 in the World

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

60. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Mechanical Engineering

#68 in North America

#196 in the World

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

61. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Mechanical Engineering

#69 in North America

#198 in the World

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

62. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Mechanical Engineering

#70 in North America

#200 in the World

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

63. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Mechanical Engineering

#72 in North America

#204 in the World

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

64. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Mechanical Engineering

#73 in North America

#211 in the World

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

65. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Mechanical Engineering

#74 in North America

#212 in the World

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

66. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Mechanical Engineering

#75 in North America

#225 in the World

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

67. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Mechanical Engineering

#76 in North America

#227 in the World

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

68. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Mechanical Engineering

#77 in North America

#234 in the World

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

69. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Mechanical Engineering

#78 in North America

#242 in the World

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

70. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Mechanical Engineering

#79 in North America

#243 in the World

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

71. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Mechanical Engineering

#80 in North America

#245 in the World

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

72. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Mechanical Engineering

#81 in North America

#248 in the World

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

73. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Mechanical Engineering

#83 in North America

#252 in the World

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

74. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Mechanical Engineering

#85 in North America

#257 in the World

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

75. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Mechanical Engineering

#86 in North America

#258 in the World

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

76. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Mechanical Engineering

#87 in North America

#262 in the World

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

77. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Mechanical Engineering

#88 in North America

#268 in the World

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

78. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Mechanical Engineering

#89 in North America

#272 in the World

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

79. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Mechanical Engineering

#90 in North America

#273 in the World

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

80. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Mechanical Engineering

#91 in North America

#278 in the World

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

81. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Mechanical Engineering

#92 in North America

#279 in the World

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

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

83. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Mechanical Engineering

#96 in North America

#292 in the World

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

84. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Mechanical Engineering

#97 in North America

#297 in the World

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

85. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Mechanical Engineering

#99 in North America

#302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

86. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Mechanical Engineering

#101 in North America

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

87. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Mechanical Engineering

#102 in North America

#315 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

88. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Mechanical Engineering

#103 in North America

#318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

89. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Mechanical Engineering

#104 in North America

#320 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

90. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Mechanical Engineering

#105 in North America

#324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

91. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Mechanical Engineering

#107 in North America

#330 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

92. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Mechanical Engineering

#108 in North America

#331 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

93. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Mechanical Engineering

#109 in North America

#335 in the World

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

94. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Mechanical Engineering

#110 in North America

#351 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

95. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Mechanical Engineering

#112 in North America

#356 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 85%

96. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Mechanical Engineering

#113 in North America

#358 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

97. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Mechanical Engineering

#114 in North America

#359 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 99%

98. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Mechanical Engineering

#116 in North America

#368 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,636
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

99. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Mechanical Engineering

#117 in North America

#371 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

100. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Mechanical Engineering

#118 in North America

#372 in the World

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

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.