Best colleges for Mechanical Engineering in Florida
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Florida, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach and Florida International University are the top bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in Florida by graduate earnings. University of Florida leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $76,228, College Scorecard. University of Central Florida, University of Florida and University of South Florida award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Florida: 457, 404 and 193 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 15 Florida colleges offer Mechanical Engineering and award 1,948 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,…
Top 10 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Florida Gainesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,228 | 404 | 91% | — | $18,131 |
| 2 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach Daytona Beach Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,433 | 127 | 67% | $38,899 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Florida International University Miami Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,335 | 181 | 74% | — | $19,750 |
| 4 | University of South Florida Tampa Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,046 | 193 | 77% | — | $23,783 |
| 5 | Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $69,533 | 88 | 64% | $33,585 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,451 | 111 | 63% | — | $22,025 |
| 7 | University of Miami Coral Gables Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $66,843 | 44 | 84% | $26,589 | $19,000 |
| 8 | University of North Florida Jacksonville Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,743 | 49 | 69% | — | $18,039 |
| 9 | University of Central Florida Orlando Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,298 | 457 | 78% | — | $22,025 |
| 10 | Florida Polytechnic University Lakeland Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,595 | 88 | 55% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Florida
Top 10 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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Central Florida Orlando Public | 457 | $66,298 |
| 2 | University of Florida Gainesville Public | 404 | $76,228 |
| 3 | University of South Florida Tampa Public | 193 | $70,046 |
| 4 | Florida International University Miami Public | 181 | $71,335 |
| 5 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach Daytona Beach Private not-for-profit | 127 | $73,433 |
| 6 | Florida State University Tallahassee Public | 123 | $62,021 |
| 7 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Public | 111 | $68,451 |
| 8 | Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne Private not-for-profit | 88 | $69,533 |
| 9 | Florida Polytechnic University Lakeland Public | 88 | $62,595 |
| 10 | University of West Florida Pensacola Public | 61 | $58,548 |
ShowHide the other 5 Florida colleges offering Mechanical Engineering
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Florida | Jacksonville | Public | 49 |
| University of Miami | Coral Gables | Private not-for-profit | 44 |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | Tallahassee | Public | 11 |
| Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico-Orlando | Orlando | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Jacksonville University | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141).
Top skills
What Mechanical Engineers earn in Florida
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Mechanical Engineering programs in Florida.
Which Florida colleges award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees?+
University of Central Florida (457 graduates a year), University of Florida (404 graduates a year) and University of South Florida (193 graduates a year) award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Florida, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 15 Florida colleges offer Mechanical Engineering.
What is the best college for Mechanical Engineering in Florida?+
By graduate earnings, University of Florida leads among bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in Florida, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $76,228, College Scorecard. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach and Florida International University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Central Florida is the largest, with 457 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Mechanical Engineering program in Florida has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Florida tops the list at $76,228. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mechanical Engineers earn in Florida?+
The average annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Florida is $105,800 (median $99,980), across about 10,740 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.
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