Best colleges for Mechanical Engineering in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
Washington State University, Gonzaga University and University of Washington-Seattle Campus are the top bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in Washington by graduate earnings. Washington State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $72,690, College Scorecard. University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Washington State University and Gonzaga University award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Washington: 276, 223 and 50 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 27 Washington colleges offer Mechanical Engineering and award 830 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 7 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 | Washington State University Pullman Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,690 | 223 | 60% | — | $21,000 |
| 2 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,819 | 50 | 86% | $30,006 | $23,664 |
| 3 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,947 | 276 | 85% | — | $15,000 |
| 4 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,497 | 28 | 43% | — | $26,038 |
| 5 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $71,039 | 6 | 62% | $24,653 | $26,949 |
| 6 | Saint Martin's University Lacey Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $69,938 | 18 | 52% | $22,131 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Seattle University Seattle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $67,851 | 14 | 76% | $31,900 | $20,467 |
Colleges awarding the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Washington
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 Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public | 276 | $66,947* |
| 2 | Washington State University Pullman Public | 223 | $72,690 |
| 3 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit | 50 | $70,819 |
| 4 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma Public | 34 | $66,947* |
| 5 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell Public | 32 | $66,947* |
| 6 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public | 28 | $62,497 |
| 7 | Tacoma Community College Tacoma Public | 24 | Not reported |
| 8 | Everett Community College Everett Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 9 | Saint Martin's University Lacey Private not-for-profit | 18 | $69,938 |
| 10 | Walla Walla University College Place Private not-for-profit | 18 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 17 Washington colleges offering Mechanical Engineering
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green River College | Auburn | Public | 15 |
| Seattle University | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Whatcom Community College | Bellingham | Public | 14 |
| Olympic College | Bremerton | Public | 13 |
| Clark College | Vancouver | Public | 11 |
| Spokane Falls Community College | Spokane | Public | 8 |
| Shoreline College | Shoreline | Public | 7 |
| Seattle Pacific University | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Centralia College | Centralia | Public | 4 |
| Skagit Valley College | Mount Vernon | Public | 4 |
| Bellevue College | Bellevue | Public | 3 |
| Edmonds College | Lynnwood | Public | 2 |
| Highline College | Des Moines | Public | 2 |
| Lower Columbia College | Longview | Public | 2 |
| Cascadia College | Bothell | Public | 2 |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Kirkland | Public | 1 |
| South Seattle College | Seattle | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141).
Top skills
What Mechanical Engineers earn in Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Mechanical Engineering programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees?+
University of Washington-Seattle Campus (276 graduates a year), Washington State University (223 graduates a year) and Gonzaga University (50 graduates a year) award the most Mechanical Engineering degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 27 Washington colleges offer Mechanical Engineering.
What is the best college for Mechanical Engineering in Washington?+
By graduate earnings, Washington State University leads among bachelor's Mechanical Engineering programs in Washington, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $72,690, College Scorecard. Gonzaga University and University of Washington-Seattle Campus follow. By degrees awarded, University of Washington-Seattle Campus is the largest, with 276 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Mechanical Engineering program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Washington State University tops the list at $72,690. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mechanical Engineers earn in Washington?+
The average annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in Washington is $121,370 (median $110,430), across about 8,240 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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