Best colleges for Mechanical Engineering in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduate earnings
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Northeastern University are the top bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in Massachusetts by graduate earnings. Franklin W Olin College of Engineering leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $87,590, College Scorecard. Northeastern University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Massachusetts Institute of Technology award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Massachusetts: 374, 298 and 282 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 13 Massachusetts colleges offer Mechanical Engineering and award 2,049 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 | Franklin W Olin College of Engineering Needham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $87,590 | 27 | 96% | $18,499 | — |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,957 | 282 | 96% | $11,666 | $11,334 |
| 3 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $80,255 | 374 | 91% | $18,925 | $25,893 |
| 4 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,441 | 108 | 94% | $23,570 | $16,500 |
| 5 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,182 | 298 | 90% | $32,926 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Wentworth Institute of Technology Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $77,828 | 105 | 68% | $32,713 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,337 | 268 | 89% | $21,956 | $26,400 |
| 8 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,972 | 220 | 83% | — | $27,000 |
| 9 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,414 | 214 | 65% | — | $27,000 |
| 10 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth North Dartmouth Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,559 | 35 | 52% | — | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Massachusetts
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 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit | 374 | $80,255 |
| 2 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester Private not-for-profit | 298 | $78,182 |
| 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 282 | $83,957 |
| 4 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit | 268 | $76,337 |
| 5 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public | 220 | $73,972 |
| 6 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell Public | 214 | $73,414 |
| 7 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit | 108 | $78,441 |
| 8 | Wentworth Institute of Technology Boston Private not-for-profit | 105 | $77,828 |
| 9 | Western New England University Springfield Private not-for-profit | 63 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth North Dartmouth Public | 35 | $71,559 |
ShowHide the other 3 Massachusetts colleges offering Mechanical Engineering
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard University | Cambridge | Private not-for-profit | 34 |
| Franklin W Olin College of Engineering | Needham | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| Merrimack College | North Andover | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141).
Top skills
What Mechanical Engineers earn in Massachusetts
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Mechanical Engineering programs in Massachusetts.
Which Massachusetts colleges award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees?+
Northeastern University (374 graduates a year), Worcester Polytechnic Institute (298 graduates a year) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (282 graduates a year) award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Massachusetts, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 13 Massachusetts colleges offer Mechanical Engineering.
What is the best college for Mechanical Engineering in Massachusetts?+
By graduate earnings, Franklin W Olin College of Engineering leads among bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in Massachusetts, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $87,590, College Scorecard. Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Northeastern University follow. By degrees awarded, Northeastern University is the largest, with 374 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Mechanical Engineering program in Massachusetts has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Franklin W Olin College of Engineering tops the list at $87,590. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mechanical Engineers earn in Massachusetts?+
The average annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Massachusetts is $121,430 (median $119,300), across about 7,680 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card