Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas

Texas has 22 colleges offering Mechanical Engineering programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 2,455 recent graduates. Graduates earn $64,486 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $64,585.

Schools in TX

$64,486

TX Avg. Earnings

$64,585

National Avg.

331

Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Mechanical Engineering in Texas

Public Schools (18)

$63,718

avg. 2yr earnings

Private Schools (4)

$67,938

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $4,220 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.

Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas, Ranked by Earnings

Rice University

Houston, TX · Private

$68,219

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $70,400

Graduates: 36

Acceptance: 7.9%

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public

$71,959

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $73,222

Graduates: 206

Acceptance: 29.1%

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, TX · Public

$69,596

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $70,609

Graduates: 286

Acceptance: 70.9%

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX · Public

$73,697

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $71,020

Graduates: 186

Acceptance: 63.2%

Lamar University

Beaumont, TX · Public

$73,446

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $71,107

Graduates: 57

Acceptance: 85.7%

West Texas A & M University

Canyon, TX · Public

$58,402

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $65,323

Graduates: 42

Acceptance: 97.4%

University of Houston

Houston, TX · Public

$71,202

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $68,022

Graduates: 168

Acceptance: 69.5%

Baylor University

Waco, TX · Private

$66,897

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $63,921

Graduates: 102

Acceptance: 51.0%

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX · Private

$73,035

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $68,406

Graduates: 29

Acceptance: 61.2%

#10

The University of Texas at Arlington

Arlington, TX · Public

$64,824

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $63,839

Graduates: 121

Acceptance: 81.3%

#11

The University of Texas at Dallas

Richardson, TX · Public

$60,125

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $60,816

Graduates: 149

Acceptance: 65.5%

#12

Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Kingsville, TX · Public

$62,012

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $59,910

Graduates: 54

Acceptance: 92.3%

#13

Prairie View A & M University

Prairie View, TX · Public

$69,757

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $73,650

Graduates: 65

Acceptance: 75.3%

#14

The University of Texas at Tyler

Tyler, TX · Public

$64,706

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $61,933

Graduates: 101

Acceptance: 91.5%

#15

The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX · Public

$58,943

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $54,748

Graduates: 147

Acceptance: 99.9%

#16

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Edinburg, TX · Public

$52,107

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $57,430

Graduates: 123

Acceptance: 84.8%

#17

University of North Texas

Denton, TX · Public

$58,866

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $56,897

Graduates: 170

Acceptance: 72.5%

#18

Midwestern State University

Wichita Falls, TX · Public

$55,964

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $55,529

Graduates: 44

Acceptance: 87.4%

#19

The University of Texas at San Antonio

San Antonio, TX · Public

$59,485

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $56,677

Graduates: 220

Acceptance: 88.5%

#20

LeTourneau University

Longview, TX · Private

$63,600

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $59,759

Graduates: 49

Acceptance: 40.7%

#21

Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, TX · Public

$52,107

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $60,083

Graduates: 81

Acceptance: 89.5%

#22

The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX · Public

$69,732

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $56,596

Graduates: 19

Acceptance: 84.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Mechanical Engineering in Texas?

Rice University ranks #1 for Mechanical Engineering in Texas with median graduate earnings of $68,219 within two years of graduation. There are 22 schools offering Mechanical Engineering programs in the state.

How much do Mechanical Engineering graduates earn in Texas?

Mechanical Engineering graduates in Texas earn an average of $64,486 within two years of graduation. This is near the national average of $64,585 for this major.

What is the hardest Mechanical Engineering school to get into in Texas?

Rice University is the most selective Mechanical Engineering program in Texas with an acceptance rate of 7.9%. The average acceptance rate across Mechanical Engineering programs in the state is 72.2%.

Should I attend a public or private school for Mechanical Engineering in Texas?

In Texas, private Mechanical Engineering programs produce average earnings of $67,938 vs $63,718 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 18 public and 4 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in Texas

Chemical Engineering $70,069 Architectural Engineering $69,338 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering $68,562 Construction Engineering $68,139 Computer Engineering $65,273 Industrial Engineering $64,917 Computer Science $64,839 Construction Engineering Technologies $63,237

All colleges in Texas →

Mechanical Engineering in Other States

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Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release.