Best colleges for Mechanical Engineering in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Northwestern University and Bradley University are the top bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $80,187, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Chicago and Northwestern University award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Illinois: 446, 216 and 147 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 12 Illinois colleges offer Mechanical Engineering and award 1,233 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 8 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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,187 | 446 | 85% | — | $20,500 |
| 2 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,253 | 147 | 95% | $14,799 | $15,334 |
| 3 | Bradley University Peoria Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,746 | 56 | 76% | $21,768 | $27,000 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,871 | 216 | 62% | — | $21,500 |
| 5 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,454 | 34 | 62% | — | $24,250 |
| 6 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,069 | 111 | 49% | — | $25,000 |
| 7 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,546 | 72 | 57% | — | $23,110 |
| 8 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $65,386 | 116 | 75% | $19,899 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Illinois
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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 446 | $80,187 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 216 | $69,871 |
| 3 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 147 | $75,253 |
| 4 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Private not-for-profit | 116 | $65,386 |
| 5 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 111 | $68,069 |
| 6 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public | 72 | $66,546 |
| 7 | Bradley University Peoria Private not-for-profit | 56 | $71,746 |
| 8 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public | 34 | $69,454 |
| 9 | North Central College Naperville Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
| 10 | North Park University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 12 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 2 Illinois colleges offering Mechanical Engineering
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | Public | 8 |
| Illinois College | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141).
Top skills
What Mechanical Engineers earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Mechanical Engineering programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees?+
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (446 graduates a year), University of Illinois Chicago (216 graduates a year) and Northwestern University (147 graduates a year) award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 12 Illinois colleges offer Mechanical Engineering.
What is the best college for Mechanical Engineering in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads among bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $80,187, College Scorecard. Northwestern University and Bradley University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the largest, with 446 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Mechanical Engineering program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tops the list at $80,187. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mechanical Engineers earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Illinois is $111,380 (median $102,680), across about 11,790 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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