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2023 Most Popular Colleges for General Mechanical Engineering

426 Ranked Colleges
46,178 Degrees Awarded
$35,200 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 46,178 people earned their degree in general mechanical engineering, making the major the 14th most popular in the United States.

This year’s “Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major” ranking looked at 426 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general mechanical engineering. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in general mechanical engineering.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for general mechanical engineering students.

1

Out of the 426 schools in the Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus landed the #1 spot on the list. Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus is a public institution located in Atlanta, Georgia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 794 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Georgia Tech General Mechanical Engineering Report

2
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Out of the 426 schools in the Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. Purdue is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 582 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus General Mechanical Engineering Report

3
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

Out of the 426 schools in the Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Florida landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Florida is a large school located in Gainesville, Florida that handed out 597 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at UF

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A&M University - College Station. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major. Located in College Station, Texas, this large public school awarded 538 diplomas to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M College Station

5

Out of the 426 schools in the Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Central Florida landed the #5 spot on the list. UCF is located in Orlando, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 503 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Central Florida General Mechanical Engineering Report

6
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major ranking. Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 466 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech

7

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school awarded 462 degrees to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at U-M

8

Iowa State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school awarded 451 degrees to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at Iowa State

9

With a ranking of #9, Michigan Technological University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major list. Located in Houghton, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 429 degrees to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Tech

10

With a ranking of #10, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major list. ASU - Tempe is a large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 413 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Arizona State University - Tempe

11
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major ranking. NC State is a public institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 402 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at NC State

12
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina

With a ranking of #12, Clemson University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major list. Clemson is located in Clemson, South Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 385 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Clemson

13

University of California - San Diego ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major list. University of California - San Diego is a public institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 379 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at University of California - San Diego

14
UA crest
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The University of Alabama came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major ranking. The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 378 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UA General Mechanical Engineering Report

15
Northeastern crest
Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #15, Northeastern University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major list. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 377 degrees to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Northeastern University

16

University of Maryland - College Park came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major ranking. This large school is located in College Park, Maryland, and it awarded 374 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UMCP General Mechanical Engineering Report

17
Mines crest
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, Colorado

Colorado School of Mines ranked #17 on this year’s Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major list. This medium-sized school is located in Golden, Colorado, and it awarded 361 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at Mines

18

With a ranking of #18, The University of Texas at Austin did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major list. The University of Texas at Austin is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 359 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at UT Austin

18

University of California - Irvine ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major list. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school awarded 359 diplomas to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at UC Irvine

20
Oregon State crest
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon

Oregon State University ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major list. This large school is located in Corvallis, Oregon, and it awarded 345 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Oregon State University

21
University at Buffalo crest
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York

University at Buffalo landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major ranking. University at Buffalo is a public institution located in Buffalo, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 346 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at University at Buffalo

22
Texas Tech crest
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school awarded 342 diplomas to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Texas Tech University

23

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major ranking. UC is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 331 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Cincinnati - Main Campus General Mechanical Engineering Report

24

University of Colorado Boulder ranked #24 on this year’s Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major list. This large school is located in Boulder, Colorado, and it awarded 329 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at University of Colorado Boulder

25

With a ranking of #25, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major list. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school awarded 325 diplomas to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Ohio State

Rest of the Best 50 in Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
28
Wazzu crest
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington
29
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Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, Massachusetts
30
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
31
32
Carnegie Mellon crest
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
33
34
35
36
37
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University of Houston
Houston, Texas
38
38
38
Auburn crest
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
47
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California
49
50

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Most Well Attended General Mechanical Engineering Major

While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

RankCollegeLocation
51University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, NC
52University of South Florida - Main CampusTampa, FL
52San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA
54Stevens Institute of TechnologyHoboken, NJ
54Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, GA
56University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT
56University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh, PA
58University of South Carolina - ColumbiaColumbia, SC
58Kettering UniversityFlint, MI
60California State University - NorthridgeNorthridge, CA
61University of DaytonDayton, OH
61Indiana University - Purdue University - IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN
63University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT
64California State University - SacramentoSacramento, CA

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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