2023 Most Popular Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in Pennsylvania
24
Ranked Colleges
2,232
Degrees Awarded
$34,600
Avg Cost*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 46,178 people earned their degree in mechanical engineering, making the major the 21st most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, mechanical engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $69,007 and had an average of $23,944 in loans still to pay off.
Across Pennsylvania, there were 2,232 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,068 and $25,287 respectively.
This year’s “Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania” ranking looked at 24 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular mechanical engineering programs in the United States.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Mechanical Engineering Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania
The colleges and universities below are the best for pennsylvania me students.
Top 24 Most Popular Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in Pennsylvania
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Carnegie Mellon University. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania. Carnegie Mellon is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It awarded 298 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University
Out of the 24 schools in the Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 236 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus
Out of the 24 schools in the Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Drexel University landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 200 degrees to qualified ’s ME students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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 Drexel University Mechanical Engineering Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania. This large school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 147 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of Pennsylvania
Out of the 24 schools in the Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Lehigh University landed the #5 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 130 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, 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 91%.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Lehigh
Temple University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Temple is a public institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 110 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Temple University
Villanova University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Villanova, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s ME degrees to 89 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 Mechanical Engineering at Villanova
Lafayette College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania ranking. This small school is located in Easton, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 60 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% 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 Mechanical Engineering at Lafayette
Grove City College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #9. Grove City College is located in Grove City, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Grove City College
York College of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #10. This small school is located in York, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 48 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at York College of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #11. This small school is located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 46 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown Mechanical Engineering Report
Wilkes University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s ME degrees to 45 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 more about Mechanical Engineering at Wilkes
Widener University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Chester, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 40 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Widener University
Bucknell University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Bucknell University is a small school located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania that handed out 38 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full Bucknell Mechanical Engineering Report
With a ranking of #15, Gannon University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania list. This small school is located in Erie, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 27 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 85%.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Gannon
Montgomery County Community College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #16. Montco is a medium-sized public school situated in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. It awarded 15 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Montgomery County Community College
Thomas Jefferson University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Thomas Jefferson University is a medium-sized school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 13 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 Mechanical Engineering at Thomas Jefferson University
With a ranking of #18, Point Park University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania list. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s ME degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Mechanical Engineering at Point Park University
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania list. Located in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school handed out 5 degrees to qualified ’s ME students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 Mechanical Engineering at Ship
King’s College landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania ranking. King’s College PA is a small school located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania that handed out 3 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
Full King’s College Mechanical Engineering Report
Saint Francis University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania ranking. Loretto, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s ME degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Saint Francis University
Messiah University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #22. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s ME degrees to 0 students 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Messiah Mechanical Engineering Report
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #22. SRU is a medium-sized school located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania that handed out 0 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Mechanical Engineering Report
University of Scranton landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in Pennsylvania ranking. University of Scranton is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It awarded 0 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Scranton Mechanical Engineering Report
Focus on a Specific Degree Level
Switch to a More General Major
Switch to a Similar Major
Switch to a More Focused Major
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
college factual
