Mechanical Engineering major
Mechanical Engineering: courses, careers, and where to study
Mechanical Engineering applies physics, materials, and design to machines and mechanical systems, suiting students who want to build, analyze, and test physical hardware.
A Mechanical Engineering (ME) major is a broad, ABET-accredited engineering discipline built on a heavy math and physics core, calculus through differential equations, plus statics, dynamics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and the mechanics of materials. Upper-division coursework adds machine design, control systems, manufacturing processes, and CAD/simulation, and most programs culminate in a senior capstone design project, often industry-sponsored.
The standard credential is a Bachelor of Science, which is credit-heavy relative to a BA and typically includes substantial lab and design-studio time. Graduates who pursue licensure begin by passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, then work toward a Professional Engineer (PE) license after supervised experience.
Mechanical engineers design and test products and systems across automotive, aerospace, energy, robotics, HVAC, manufacturing, and consumer hardware, and many move into project management, R&D, or graduate study. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of mechanical engineers to grow about 9.1% from 2024 to 2034, with a 2024 median wage of $102,320.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Mechanical Engineering maps to CIP 14.1901, Mechanical Engineering, within the ENGINEERING family. The official definition:
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of physical systems used in manufacturing and end-product systems used for specific uses, including machine tools, jigs and other manufacturing equipment; stationary power units and appliances; engines; self-propelled vehicles; housings and containers; hydraulic and electric systems for controlling movement; and the integration of computers and remote control with operating systems.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential Mechanical Engineering is awarded as
Of the 42,550 Mechanical Engineering credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2023-24:
- Certificate<1%64
- Associate<1%305
- Bachelor's77%32,971
- Graduate22%9,210
This mix is fairly consistent nationally: across the 50 states reporting it, the certificate share moves by about 0 percentage points between the 10th and 90th percentile state, so the credential is more a property of the field than of where you study it. See the full study.
Credentials conferred in 2023-24, U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions. A certificate is a different credential from a degree, not a lesser one, and this counts what was awarded rather than what a college currently offers.
What you'll study
- Statics, dynamics, and the mechanics of materials
- Thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer
- Machine design and mechanical component analysis
- CAD modeling and finite-element / simulation tools (e.g., SolidWorks, ANSYS)
- Manufacturing processes and materials science
- Control systems, instrumentation, and mechatronics
- Calculus through differential equations and engineering mathematics
- Senior capstone design project, often industry-sponsored
Typical careers
- Mechanical Engineer
- Aerospace Engineer
- Automotive Engineer
- Manufacturing / Process Engineer
- HVAC / Energy Systems Engineer
- Robotics / Mechatronics Engineer
Typical salary range: Early-career wages vary by industry and region (BLS, 2024 mechanical engineers median $102,320)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Mechanical Engineering, with what each one pays and how many openings it is projected to average each year. Ordered by projected annual openings, largest first. Linked titles open the full CampusPin career page.
| Occupation | Median pay | Openings / yr | Projected change | Most entrants hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineers | $102,320 | 18,100 | +9.1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Cost Estimators | $77,070 | 16,900 | -4.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $167,740 | 14,500 | +3.8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Aerospace Engineers | $134,830 | 4,500 | +6.1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $106,120 | 4,100 | +8.1% | Doctoral or professional degree |
Crosswalk: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. Pay, openings and projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 wages, Employment Projections). 5 of these 5 occupations report a median wage.
“Most entrants hold” is what BLS observes about people already working in the occupation. It is not a legal requirement, not an admission rule, and not a guarantee of entry. Studying Mechanical Engineering does not guarantee any specific occupation, and many of these roles are entered from several different fields. Projected openings are a projection, not jobs promised.
Before you commit to a Mechanical Engineering major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Mechanical Engineering program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Mechanical Engineering department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Mechanical Engineering program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Colleges that awarded the most Mechanical Engineering credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2023-24. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- Purdue University-Main CampusIN · 819
- Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusGA · 782
- Texas A & M University-College StationTX · 668
- Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ · 508
- University of Michigan-Ann ArborMI · 466
- Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPA · 450
- University of California-BerkeleyCA · 447
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVA · 447
- University of Central FloridaFL · 428
- University of FloridaFL · 418
- The University of Texas at AustinTX · 405
- University of Colorado BoulderCO · 405
Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2023-24. It confirms the field was awarded that year, not that the program currently accepts students, and it covers only the fields CampusPin tracks. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Where Mechanical Engineering credentials were awarded
2 states have a distinct enough set of Mechanical Engineering colleges to be worth its own page.
Search Mechanical Engineering schools by state
- Mechanical Engineering in California
- Mechanical Engineering in Florida
- Mechanical Engineering in Georgia
- Mechanical Engineering in Illinois
- Mechanical Engineering in Maryland
- Mechanical Engineering in Massachusetts
- Mechanical Engineering in New York
- Mechanical Engineering in North Carolina
- Mechanical Engineering in Pennsylvania
- Mechanical Engineering in Texas
Related majors
Engineering
Engineering majors apply math, physics, and design to build the physical and digital systems that power society, from bridges and chips to medical devices and aircraft.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering applies physics and math to circuits, power, and electronics, suiting students who want to design the hardware and systems behind modern technology.
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering applies physics, mechanics, and design to the built environment, roads, bridges, water systems, and buildings, suiting students who want to plan and build public infrastructure.
Physics
Physics studies the fundamental laws of matter, energy, and motion, a foundational major for engineering, computing, finance, and graduate research.
Mathematics
Mathematics develops formal proof, abstraction, and quantitative analysis, feeding into research, finance, computing, actuarial science, and graduate programs across STEM.
Still deciding between Mechanical Engineering and something else?
These guides put Mechanical Engineeringside by side with the major it is most often confused with, using the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk to show where the two actually lead.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Mechanical Engineering degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Engineering & Architecture careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
Explore Management careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Mechanical Engineering degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Mechanical Engineering path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
Does picking a major narrow your college list?
Across the federal completions data, most fields barely change which colleges are on the table. Which ones genuinely do.
Certificate or degree?
What credential a field is usually awarded as is mostly set by the field itself, not by the state, with a short list of exceptions.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.