Best Schools for Manufacturing Engineering

Manufacturing Engineering graduates earn a median of $88,574 within four years of graduating, ranking #14 out of 283 tracked majors — 42% above the median across all fields. There are 17 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 385 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Northwestern University graduates earn $97,819 while Robert Morris University graduates earn $74,446 — a $23,373 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is modest: Manufacturing Engineering graduates see an average 4% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

Schools

$88,574

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#14

of 283 Majors

385

Graduates

Public vs Private: Manufacturing Engineering

Public (11 schools)

$87,538

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (6 schools)

$90,130

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $2,592 more in early earnings on average for Manufacturing Engineering graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Manufacturing Engineering by State

Top Manufacturing Engineering Schools by Graduate Earnings

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · Private

$97,819

4yr Earnings

21 grads · small sample

1yr: $66,553 (17)

Acceptance: 7.1%

National University

San Diego, CA · Private

$97,525

4yr Earnings

19 grads · small sample

2yr: $78,343 (13)

Acceptance: N/A

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI · Public

$95,416

4yr Earnings

22 grads · small sample

1yr: $68,319 (28)

Acceptance: 94.7%

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT · Private

Dunwoody College of Technology

Minneapolis, MN · Private

Texas State University

San Marcos, TX · Public

Bradley University

Peoria, IL · Private

$88,690

4yr Earnings

26 grads · small sample

2yr: $69,897 (27)

1yr: $62,628 (30)

Acceptance: 76.7%

University of Wisconsin-Stout

Menomonie, WI · Public

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, AZ · Public

$85,911

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 90.2%

#11

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR · Public

$85,369

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

2yr: $69,338 (16)

Acceptance: 78.8%

#12

Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public

$85,369

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

2yr: $69,338 (16)

Acceptance: 68.4%

#13

Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public

$85,314

4yr Earnings

22 grads · small sample

1yr: $66,425 (21)

Acceptance: 91.3%

#14

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI · Public

Robert Morris University

Moon Township, PA · Private

$74,446

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

1yr: $53,432 (24)

Acceptance: 90.6%

#16

North Dakota State University-Main Campus

Fargo, ND · Public

$67,660

2yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN · Public

$65,387

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 95.0%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Computer Engineering $70,196 Polymer/Plastics Engineering $69,542 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering $69,341 Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology $68,764 Computational Science $67,660 Computer Science $67,635

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Manufacturing Engineering?

Northwestern University ranks #1 for Manufacturing Engineering with median graduate earnings of $97,819 within four years of graduating. There are 17 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Manufacturing Engineering graduates earn?

Manufacturing Engineering graduates earn an average of $88,574 within four years of graduating. This is 42% above the median across all majors. Earnings range from $74,446 to $97,819 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top Manufacturing Engineering program?

The average acceptance rate across Manufacturing Engineering programs is 80.3%. The most selective program is at Northwestern University with a 7.1% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Manufacturing Engineering?

Private Manufacturing Engineering programs average $90,130 in early earnings vs $87,538 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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