Colorado · Mechanical Engineering

Best colleges for Mechanical Engineering in Colorado

Ranked by graduate earnings

Colorado School of Mines, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus and University of Colorado Colorado Springs are the top bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in Colorado by graduate earnings. Colorado School of Mines leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $74,145, College Scorecard. Colorado School of Mines, University of Colorado Boulder and Colorado State University - Fort Collins award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Colorado: 435, 394 and 207 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 10 Colorado colleges offer Mechanical Engineering and award 1,239 degrees and certificates a year in all.

Mechanical Engineering is a dynamic field that focuses on the study of physical machines and mechanisms, emphasizing force and movement. This program is designed for students interested in applying principles of engineering physics,…

Institutions
10
offering CIP 14.19
States & territories
52
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,239
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$66,089
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
6
College Scorecard
Median net price
$29,726
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
56%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Mechanical Engineers
$124,410
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 6 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Colorado School of Mines
Golden Public · Bachelor's degree
$74,14543582%—$25,000
2University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver Public · Bachelor's degree
$70,7635146%—$30,907
3University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Public · Bachelor's degree
$70,4406347%—$23,250
4University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder Public · Bachelor's degree
$66,08939474%—$20,500
5University of Denver
Denver Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$65,0144676%$29,726$26,248
6Colorado State University - Fort Collins
Fort Collins Public · Bachelor's degree
$60,72020767%—$26,184

Colleges awarding the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Colorado

Top 8 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Colorado School of Mines
Golden Public
435$74,145
2University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder Public
394$66,089
3Colorado State University - Fort Collins
Fort Collins Public
207$60,720
4University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Public
63$70,440
5University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver Public
51$70,763
6University of Denver
Denver Private not-for-profit
46$65,014
7United States Air Force Academy
USAF Academy Public
19Not reported
8Front Range Community College
Westminster Public
12Not reported
Show the other 2 Colorado colleges offering Mechanical Engineering
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Community College of DenverDenverPublic6
Pikes Peak State CollegeColorado SpringsPublic6

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+9.1%
Much faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~18,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$102,320
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingScienceMathematicsActive Learning

What Mechanical Engineers earn in Colorado

Jobs in Colorado
7,190
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$124,410
median $124,430
Best-paying metro
$131,980
Boulder, CO

Related careers

Mechanical Engineers
$124,410 avg · 7,190 jobs
Cost Estimators
$95,040 avg · 6,100 jobs
Aerospace Engineers
$157,060 avg · 4,070 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Mechanical Engineering programs in Colorado.

Which Colorado colleges award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees?+

Colorado School of Mines (435 graduates a year), University of Colorado Boulder (394 graduates a year) and Colorado State University - Fort Collins (207 graduates a year) award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Colorado, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 10 Colorado colleges offer Mechanical Engineering.

What is the best college for Mechanical Engineering in Colorado?+

By graduate earnings, Colorado School of Mines leads among bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in Colorado, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $74,145, College Scorecard. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus and University of Colorado Colorado Springs follow. By degrees awarded, Colorado School of Mines is the largest, with 435 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Mechanical Engineering program in Colorado has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Colorado School of Mines tops the list at $74,145. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Mechanical Engineers earn in Colorado?+

The average annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Colorado is $124,410 (median $124,430), across about 7,190 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Mechanical Engineering program?+

Mechanical Engineering is a dynamic field that focuses on the study of physical machines and mechanisms, emphasizing force and movement. This program is designed for students interested in applying principles of engineering physics,…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, critical thinking, science, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Mechanical Engineers?+

The national job outlook is about +9.1% growth with around 18,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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