Best colleges for Mechanical Engineering in Ohio
Ranked by graduate earnings
Ohio State University, University of Toledo and Case Western Reserve University are the top bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in Ohio by graduate earnings. Ohio State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $79,359, College Scorecard. University of Cincinnati, Ohio State University and University of Dayton award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Ohio: 327, 303 and 210 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 19 Ohio colleges offer Mechanical Engineering and award 1,863 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 | Ohio State University Columbus Public · Bachelor's degree | $79,359 | 303 | 88% | — | $20,500 |
| 2 | University of Toledo Toledo Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,011 | 141 | 57% | — | $17,900 |
| 3 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,736 | 114 | 87% | $27,976 | $24,855 |
| 4 | Ohio Northern University Ada Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,443 | 79 | 75% | $23,912 | $27,000 |
| 5 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,412 | 327 | 75% | — | $25,998 |
| 6 | University of Dayton Dayton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,911 | 210 | 80% | $28,560 | $24,250 |
| 7 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,448 | 143 | 52% | — | $25,125 |
| 8 | Cedarville University Cedarville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $69,178 | 34 | 73% | $22,701 | $25,000 |
| 9 | Ohio University Athens Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,161 | 40 | 65% | — | $27,000 |
| 10 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,067 | 112 | 80% | — | $25,100 |
Colleges awarding the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Ohio
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 Cincinnati Cincinnati Public | 327 | $72,412 |
| 2 | Ohio State University Columbus Public | 303 | $79,359 |
| 3 | University of Dayton Dayton Private not-for-profit | 210 | $71,911 |
| 4 | Cleveland State University Cleveland Public | 173 | $65,531 |
| 5 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron Public | 143 | $71,448 |
| 6 | University of Toledo Toledo Public | 141 | $77,011 |
| 7 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Private not-for-profit | 114 | $76,736 |
| 8 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford Public | 112 | $68,067 |
| 9 | Ohio Northern University Ada Private not-for-profit | 79 | $72,443 |
| 10 | Wright State University Dayton Public | 55 | $66,331 |
ShowHide the other 9 Ohio colleges offering Mechanical Engineering
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youngstown State University | Youngstown | Public | 43 |
| Ohio University | Athens | Public | 40 |
| Cedarville University | Cedarville | Private not-for-profit | 34 |
| Wright State University - Lake Campus | Celina | Public | 21 |
| Stark State College | North Canton | Public | 19 |
| Franciscan University of Steubenville | Steubenville | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Otterbein University | Westerville | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| University of Mount Union | Alliance | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Mount Vernon Nazarene University | Mount Vernon | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141).
Top skills
What Mechanical Engineers earn in Ohio
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Mechanical Engineering programs in Ohio.
Which Ohio colleges award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees?+
University of Cincinnati (327 graduates a year), Ohio State University (303 graduates a year) and University of Dayton (210 graduates a year) award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Ohio, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 19 Ohio colleges offer Mechanical Engineering.
What is the best college for Mechanical Engineering in Ohio?+
By graduate earnings, Ohio State University leads among bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in Ohio, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $79,359, College Scorecard. University of Toledo and Case Western Reserve University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Cincinnati is the largest, with 327 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Mechanical Engineering program in Ohio has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Ohio State University tops the list at $79,359. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mechanical Engineers earn in Ohio?+
The average annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Ohio is $101,320 (median $99,100), across about 14,390 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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