Best colleges for Mechanical Engineering in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
Cornell University, SUNY Maritime College and Rochester Institute of Technology are the top bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in New York by graduate earnings. Cornell University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $85,440, College Scorecard. Rochester Institute of Technology, Cornell University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in New York: 278, 271 and 222 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 25 New York colleges offer Mechanical Engineering and award 2,474 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 | Cornell University Ithaca Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $85,440 | 271 | 95% | $17,613 | $15,500 |
| 2 | SUNY Maritime College Throggs Neck Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,895 | 43 | 64% | — | $26,000 |
| 3 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,263 | 278 | 70% | $28,133 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,833 | 222 | 84% | $28,900 | $25,000 |
| 5 | University of Rochester Rochester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,828 | 73 | 85% | $25,874 | $21,000 |
| 6 | Clarkson University Potsdam Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,168 | 154 | 75% | $27,281 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Columbia University New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,036 | 214 | 96% | $15,315 | $16,960 |
| 8 | Manhattan University Riverdale Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,841 | 84 | 64% | $26,807 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,729 | 158 | 76% | — | $20,008 |
| 10 | Union College Schenectady Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $68,407 | 27 | 80% | $25,885 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in New York
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 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester Private not-for-profit | 278 | $76,263 |
| 2 | Cornell University Ithaca Private not-for-profit | 271 | $85,440 |
| 3 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy Private not-for-profit | 222 | $73,833 |
| 4 | Columbia University New York Private not-for-profit | 214 | $72,036 |
| 5 | Binghamton University Vestal Public | 191 | $66,371 |
| 6 | University at Buffalo Buffalo Public | 190 | $65,094 |
| 7 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook Public | 158 | $68,729 |
| 8 | Clarkson University Potsdam Private not-for-profit | 154 | $73,168 |
| 9 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit | 127 | $64,687 |
| 10 | Manhattan University Riverdale Private not-for-profit | 84 | $70,841 |
ShowHide the other 15 New York colleges offering Mechanical Engineering
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY City College | New York | Public | 79 |
| Syracuse University | Syracuse | Private not-for-profit | 76 |
| University of Rochester | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 73 |
| United States Military Academy | West Point | Public | 73 |
| SUNY Maritime College | Throggs Neck | Public | 43 |
| The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | New York | Private not-for-profit | 36 |
| New York Institute of Technology | Old Westbury | Private not-for-profit | 34 |
| Hofstra University | Hempstead | Private not-for-profit | 31 |
| SUNY Polytechnic Institute | Utica | Public | 31 |
| Alfred University | Alfred | Private not-for-profit | 30 |
| Union College | Schenectady | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| State University of New York at New Paltz | New Paltz | Public | 22 |
| CUNY LaGuardia Community College | Long Island City | Public | 15 |
| Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology | Flushing | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| CUNY Hostos Community College | Bronx | Public | 5 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141).
Top skills
What Mechanical Engineers earn in New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Mechanical Engineering programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees?+
Rochester Institute of Technology (278 graduates a year), Cornell University (271 graduates a year) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (222 graduates a year) award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 25 New York colleges offer Mechanical Engineering.
What is the best college for Mechanical Engineering in New York?+
By graduate earnings, Cornell University leads among bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in New York, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $85,440, College Scorecard. SUNY Maritime College and Rochester Institute of Technology follow. By degrees awarded, Rochester Institute of Technology is the largest, with 278 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Mechanical Engineering program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Cornell University tops the list at $85,440. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mechanical Engineers earn in New York?+
The average annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in New York is $110,270 (median $102,440), across about 8,590 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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