Best colleges for Mechanical Engineering in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
Vanderbilt University, University of Memphis and The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga are the top bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in Tennessee by graduate earnings. Vanderbilt University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $78,009, College Scorecard. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Tennessee Technological University and Vanderbilt University award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Tennessee: 241, 138 and 83 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 11 Tennessee colleges offer Mechanical Engineering and award 643 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 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,009 | 83 | 94% | $14,854 | $14,000 |
| 2 | University of Memphis Memphis Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,386 | 65 | 51% | — | $27,500 |
| 3 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,517 | 49 | 50% | — | $24,904 |
| 4 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,228 | 138 | 58% | — | $20,500 |
| 5 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public · Bachelor's degree | $65,756 | 241 | 74% | — | $23,250 |
| 6 | Christian Brothers University Memphis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $71,112 | 12 | 55% | $11,063 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Lipscomb University Nashville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $67,725 | 12 | 72% | $24,309 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Tennessee State University Nashville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $58,828 | 12 | 34% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Tennessee
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 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public | 241 | $65,756 |
| 2 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public | 138 | $66,228 |
| 3 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 83 | $78,009 |
| 4 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | 65 | $69,386 |
| 5 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public | 49 | $66,517 |
| 6 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin Public | 13 | Not reported |
| 7 | Christian Brothers University Memphis Private not-for-profit | 12 | $71,112 |
| 8 | Lipscomb University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 12 | $67,725 |
| 9 | Tennessee State University Nashville Public | 12 | $58,828 |
| 10 | Union University Jackson Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 1 Tennessee colleges offering Mechanical Engineering
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milligan University | Milligan | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141).
Top skills
What Mechanical Engineers earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Mechanical Engineering programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees?+
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (241 graduates a year), Tennessee Technological University (138 graduates a year) and Vanderbilt University (83 graduates a year) award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 11 Tennessee colleges offer Mechanical Engineering.
What is the best college for Mechanical Engineering in Tennessee?+
By graduate earnings, Vanderbilt University leads among bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in Tennessee, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $78,009, College Scorecard. University of Memphis and The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is the largest, with 241 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Mechanical Engineering program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Vanderbilt University tops the list at $78,009. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mechanical Engineers earn in Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Tennessee is $104,790 (median $99,550), across about 3,930 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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