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2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region

30 Ranked Colleges
2,950 Degrees Awarded
$28,800 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Mechanical Engineering is the 21st most popular major in the country with 46,178 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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 the Plains States region, there were 2,950 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $67,644 and $25,449 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 30 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. To top this list, a school must have a successful mechanical engineering program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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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 the Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region me students.

1

Out of the 30 schools in the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Iowa State is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 451 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Iowa State

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 285 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, 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 93%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

3

Out of the 30 schools in the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Missouri University of Science and Technology landed the #3 spot on the list. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a public institution located in Rolla, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 272 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology

4
K -State crest
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kansas State University. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, this large public school handed out 182 diplomas to qualified ’s ME students in 2020-2021.

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%. 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 Kansas State University

5

Out of the 30 schools in the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 170 diplomas to qualified ’s ME students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at North Dakota State University - Main Campus

6

With a ranking of #6, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region list. University of Missouri - Columbia is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 168 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of Missouri - Columbia

7

With a ranking of #7, Washington University in St Louis did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s ME degrees to 156 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, 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 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Washington University in St Louis Mechanical Engineering Report

8

With a ranking of #8, University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region list. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 151 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UNL

9
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas ranked #9 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region list. University of Kansas is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 140 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full KU Mechanical Engineering Report

10

University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 121 degrees to qualified ’s ME students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of Minnesota - Duluth

11
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 121 ’s ME 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 2.2% 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 University of Iowa

12
UND crest
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 112 diplomas to qualified ’s ME students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of North Dakota Mechanical Engineering Report

13

University of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region ranking. UST MN is a medium-sized school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 105 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of St Thomas Minnesota Mechanical Engineering Report

14

Wichita State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #14. WSU is a public institution located in Wichita, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 102 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at WSU

15
South Dakota State crest
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

South Dakota State University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region ranking. South Dakota State University is a public institution located in Brookings, South Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 80 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota State

16

University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region list. This fairly large school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 79 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UMKC

17

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. Rapid City, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME degrees to 64 students in 2020-2021.

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 SD Mines Mechanical Engineering Report

18
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

With a ranking of #18, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region list. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME degrees to 36 students 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%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at St. Cloud State University

19

Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region list. Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME degrees to 31 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Minnesota State Mankato Mechanical Engineering Report

20

University of Missouri - St Louis ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large public school handed out 27 degrees to qualified ’s ME students 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 UMSL Mechanical Engineering Report

21
Dordt crest
Dordt University
Sioux Center, Iowa

Dordt University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Dordt University is a small school located in Sioux Center, Iowa that handed out 23 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full Dordt Mechanical Engineering Report

22
SLU crest
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, Missouri

Saint Louis University ranked #22 on this year’s Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region list. Saint Louis University is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full SLU Mechanical Engineering Report

23
Benedictine College crest
Benedictine College
Atchison, Kansas

With a ranking of #23, Benedictine College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region list. Benedictine College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Atchison, Kansas. It awarded 20 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Benedictine College

24

Saint Ambrose University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Ambrose University is a small school located in Davenport, Iowa that handed out 15 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.

Full St. Ambrose University Mechanical Engineering Report

25
UJ crest
University of Jamestown
Jamestown, North Dakota

University of Jamestown did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended ME Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #25. University of Jamestown is located in Jamestown, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s ME degrees to qualified 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 Jamestown Mechanical Engineering Report

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