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Best Engineering Programs 2026

Best engineering programs ranked by starting salary. Compare mechanical, electrical, civil, and chemical engineering across schools.

25 programs ranked

$76,502 avg salary

18 public schools

💻 Computer Science ⚙️ Engineering 📊 Business & Finance 📈 Economics 🧬 Biology & Pre-Med 📐 Mathematics & Statistics 🏛️ Political Science & Government 🧠 Psychology 🎤 Communications & Media 📚 Liberal Arts & Humanities 📖 Education & Teaching ⚛️ Physics & Physical Sciences

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA

$126,367 median salary$14,979/yr net cost0.7 yr break-even+321% vs. HS diploma

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Cambridge, MA

$104,229 median salary$19,813/yr net cost1.1 yr break-even+247% vs. HS diploma

Computer Engineering

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI

$84,934 median salary$14,832/yr net cost1.2 yr break-even+183% vs. HS diploma

Chemical Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Cambridge, MA

$81,524 median salary$19,813/yr net cost1.6 yr break-even+172% vs. HS diploma

Mechanical Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Cambridge, MA

$80,396 median salary$19,813/yr net cost1.7 yr break-even+168% vs. HS diploma

Materials Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Cambridge, MA

$80,203 median salary$19,813/yr net cost1.7 yr break-even+167% vs. HS diploma

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI

$78,393 median salary$14,832/yr net cost1.4 yr break-even+161% vs. HS diploma

Engineering-Related Fields

Stanford University · Stanford, CA

$77,180 median salary$12,136/yr net cost1.1 yr break-even+157% vs. HS diploma

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

Wayne State University · Detroit, MI

$76,864 median salary$14,773/yr net cost1.4 yr break-even+156% vs. HS diploma

Industrial Engineering

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI

$75,644 median salary$14,832/yr net cost1.5 yr break-even+152% vs. HS diploma

Mechanical Engineering

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI

$75,414 median salary$14,832/yr net cost1.5 yr break-even+151% vs. HS diploma

Chemical Engineering

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI

$75,199 median salary$14,832/yr net cost1.5 yr break-even+151% vs. HS diploma

Materials Engineering

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI

$73,854 median salary$14,832/yr net cost1.5 yr break-even+146% vs. HS diploma

Mechanical Engineering

University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA

$73,836 median salary$14,979/yr net cost1.5 yr break-even+146% vs. HS diploma

Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Cambridge, MA

$72,563 median salary$19,813/yr net cost2 yr break-even+142% vs. HS diploma

Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians

Wayne State University · Detroit, MI

$72,343 median salary$14,773/yr net cost1.6 yr break-even+141% vs. HS diploma

Mechanical Engineering

Wayne State University · Detroit, MI

$71,849 median salary$14,773/yr net cost1.6 yr break-even+139% vs. HS diploma

Chemical Engineering

University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA

$70,767 median salary$14,979/yr net cost1.6 yr break-even+136% vs. HS diploma

Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians

Wayne State University · Detroit, MI

$70,278 median salary$14,773/yr net cost1.7 yr break-even+134% vs. HS diploma

Civil Engineering

University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA

$69,327 median salary$14,979/yr net cost1.6 yr break-even+131% vs. HS diploma

Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI

$67,815 median salary$14,832/yr net cost1.8 yr break-even+126% vs. HS diploma

Mechanical Engineering

Stanford University · Stanford, CA

$67,007 median salary$12,136/yr net cost1.4 yr break-even+123% vs. HS diploma

Civil Engineering

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI

$65,294 median salary$14,832/yr net cost1.9 yr break-even+118% vs. HS diploma

Chemical Engineering

Wayne State University · Detroit, MI

$64,406 median salary$14,773/yr net cost1.9 yr break-even+115% vs. HS diploma

Civil Engineering

Wayne State University · Detroit, MI

$56,865 median salary$14,773/yr net cost2.5 yr break-even+90% vs. HS diploma

Compare Schools Side by Side

See how different engineering programs stack up on cost, salary, and graduation rates.

Compare Schools Overall Rankings

Rankings are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Programs are ranked by median earnings 1 year after completion. Data reflects bachelor's degree programs only.