By major
MIT and Stanford lead every engineering ranking, but the more useful finding is that selectivity and earnings come apart badly in this field: WPI admits 60.2% of applicants and its graduates earn a median of $103,470 ten years after entry, and Colorado School of Mines admits 60.7% and reaches $97,335 — both ahead of institutions that admit a tenth as many applicants. Georgia Tech and Purdue offer top-ten engineering at public tuition of $12,058 and $9,992 respectively.
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · 4,535 undergraduates
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$143,372
The reference point for engineering education worldwide, and the only school here that tops prestige, earnings and research lists simultaneously. Need-blind aid with no loans.
Stanford, CA · Private nonprofit · 7,554 undergraduates
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$124,080
Elite across every engineering discipline with unmatched access to industry and venture funding. Free tuition for families under roughly $150,000.
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit · 7,304 undergraduates
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$114,862
Electrical and computer engineering and robotics are world-leading. Be aware that need-based aid is weaker than similarly ranked peers, with an average net price of $31,944.
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit · 5,447 undergraduates
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$103,470
The WPI Plan requires three major team projects to graduate, including one solving a real problem for an outside sponsor. Home of the first U.S. robotics engineering bachelor's degree, and test-blind, at a 60.2% acceptance rate.
Atlanta, GA · Public · 18,785 undergraduates
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$102,772
Industrial & Systems Engineering has been ranked #1 nationally for roughly thirty consecutive years, and in-state tuition is $12,058. One of the oldest cooperative education programs in the country.
Golden, CO · Public · 6,155 undergraduates
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$97,335
The clearest value anomaly in American engineering: median earnings of $97,335 while admitting 60.7% of applicants. Ranked #1 in the world for mining, petroleum and geological engineering.
San Luis Obispo, CA · Public · 21,996 undergraduates
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$90,768
Required hands-on lab and studio work from the first year, plus nationally elite architecture and architectural engineering, at in-state tuition of $13,596.
West Lafayette, IN · Public · 44,503 undergraduates
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$72,424
Top-ten College of Engineering with elite aerospace, at in-state tuition frozen at $9,992 since 2012 and a 49.9% acceptance rate. More astronauts than any school outside the service academies.
Median earnings ten years after entry from College Scorecard, highest first, restricted to institutions where engineering and computing are a dominant share of the degrees awarded. Ranking-source positions are shown alongside but did not determine the order.