Best colleges for Mechanical Engineering in Indiana
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Notre Dame, Purdue University and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology are the top bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in Indiana by graduate earnings. University of Notre Dame leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $84,999, College Scorecard. Purdue University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and University of Notre Dame award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Indiana: 1,148, 151 and 142 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 15 Indiana colleges offer Mechanical Engineering and award 1,681 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 9 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 Notre Dame Notre Dame Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $84,999 | 142 | 95% | $19,452 | $19,000 |
| 2 | Purdue University West Lafayette Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,374 | 1,148 | 83% | — | $19,937 |
| 3 | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Terre Haute Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,732 | 151 | 78% | $36,775 | $25,612 |
| 4 | Purdue University Northwest Hammond Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,632 | 46 | 43% | — | $25,250 |
| 5 | Valparaiso University Valparaiso Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $68,265 | 26 | 70% | $20,155 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Trine University Angola Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $66,816 | 57 | 64% | $22,269 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,534 | 31 | 36% | — | — |
| 8 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $69,746 | 16 | 54% | — | $26,450 |
| 9 | University of Evansville Evansville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $66,553 | 10 | 64% | $19,593 | $25,010 |
Colleges awarding the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Indiana
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 | Purdue University West Lafayette Public | 1,148 | $80,374 |
| 2 | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Terre Haute Private not-for-profit | 151 | $78,732 |
| 3 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Private not-for-profit | 142 | $84,999 |
| 4 | Trine University Angola Private not-for-profit | 57 | $66,816 |
| 5 | Purdue University Northwest Hammond Public | 46 | $68,632 |
| 6 | Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Public | 31 | $64,534 |
| 7 | Valparaiso University Valparaiso Private not-for-profit | 26 | $68,265 |
| 8 | University of Southern Indiana Evansville Public | 21 | Not reported |
| 9 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis Public | 16 | $69,746 |
| 10 | Indiana Institute of Technology Fort Wayne Private not-for-profit | 15 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 5 Indiana colleges offering Mechanical Engineering
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Evansville | Evansville | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Anderson University | Anderson | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Grace College and Theological Seminary | Winona Lake | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| University of Indianapolis | Indianapolis | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Indiana Institute of Technology - College of Professional Studies (Online) | Fort Wayne | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141).
Top skills
What Mechanical Engineers earn in Indiana
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Mechanical Engineering programs in Indiana.
Which Indiana colleges award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees?+
Purdue University (1,148 graduates a year), Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (151 graduates a year) and University of Notre Dame (142 graduates a year) award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Indiana, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 15 Indiana colleges offer Mechanical Engineering.
What is the best college for Mechanical Engineering in Indiana?+
By graduate earnings, University of Notre Dame leads among bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in Indiana, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $84,999, College Scorecard. Purdue University and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology follow. By degrees awarded, Purdue University is the largest, with 1,148 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Mechanical Engineering program in Indiana has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Notre Dame tops the list at $84,999. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mechanical Engineers earn in Indiana?+
The average annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Indiana is $104,670 (median $99,590), across about 8,690 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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