Best colleges for Mechanical Engineering in Texas
Ranked by graduate earnings
Rice University, The University of Texas at Austin and Southern Methodist University are the top bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in Texas by graduate earnings. Rice University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $82,899, College Scorecard. Texas A&M University - College Station, The University of Texas at Austin and Texas Tech University award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Texas: 610, 417 and 338 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 38 Texas colleges offer Mechanical Engineering and award 3,567 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 | Rice University Houston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $82,899 | 90 | 95% | $13,264 | $15,375 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public · Bachelor's degree | $82,227 | 417 | 89% | — | $18,750 |
| 3 | Southern Methodist University Dallas Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $79,280 | 52 | 84% | $33,246 | $17,708 |
| 4 | West Texas A & M University Canyon Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,028 | 36 | 55% | — | $21,125 |
| 5 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,785 | 610 | 84% | — | $19,500 |
| 6 | Baylor University Waco Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,726 | 103 | 80% | $35,682 | $27,000 |
| 7 | University of Houston Houston Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,043 | 249 | 65% | — | $20,000 |
| 8 | Texas Tech University Lubbock Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,268 | 338 | 69% | — | $25,396 |
| 9 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,188 | 144 | 54% | — | $24,080 |
| 10 | Lamar University Beaumont Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,359 | 56 | 37% | — | $29,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Texas
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 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station Public | 610 | $77,785 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public | 417 | $82,227 |
| 3 | Texas Tech University Lubbock Public | 338 | $73,268 |
| 4 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson Public | 260 | $61,113 |
| 5 | University of Houston Houston Public | 249 | $74,043 |
| 6 | The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso Public | 233 | $62,393 |
| 7 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg Public | 148 | $60,924 |
| 8 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington Public | 144 | $69,188 |
| 9 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio Public | 128 | $64,313 |
| 10 | University of North Texas Denton Public | 117 | $68,173 |
ShowHide the other 28 Texas colleges offering Mechanical Engineering
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141).
Top skills
What Mechanical Engineers earn in Texas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Mechanical Engineering programs in Texas.
Which Texas colleges award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees?+
Texas A&M University - College Station (610 graduates a year), The University of Texas at Austin (417 graduates a year) and Texas Tech University (338 graduates a year) award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Texas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 38 Texas colleges offer Mechanical Engineering.
What is the best college for Mechanical Engineering in Texas?+
By graduate earnings, Rice University leads among bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in Texas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $82,899, College Scorecard. The University of Texas at Austin and Southern Methodist University follow. By degrees awarded, Texas A&M University - College Station is the largest, with 610 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Mechanical Engineering program in Texas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Rice University tops the list at $82,899. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mechanical Engineers earn in Texas?+
The average annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Texas is $121,510 (median $112,410), across about 22,080 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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