Mechanical Engineering Courses and Best Universities in USA: Ranking, Fees, Requirements, Jobs & More for Mechanical Engineering in USA

Course Curriculum For Mechanical Engineering in USA

Pursuing mechanical engineering in US universities might come across a wide aspect of the course curriculum. Be it a bachelor's degree or a Master's and Phd, mechanical engineering universities in USA offer both practical and theoretical knowledge to their learners pursuing the course.

The mechanical engineering program is an intensive 30 credit hours or more based on the level of course. It gives you a hand on studying both inside and outside of the classroom with knowledge in computer-aided engineering, system vibrations, advanced fluid mechanics and more. Some of the subjects include:

• Mechanical Engineering Analysis
• Advanced Dynamics
• Elasticity
• Advanced Fluid Mechanics
• Project and Risk Management
• Systems Thinking and Systems Engineering
• Manufacturing/Automation

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List of Top Universities To Study Mechanical Engineering in USA

There are multiple best universities for mechanical engineering in USA. These universities have been one of the preferred choices because of the quality education and infrastructure they offer. While there are many in the bucket list, here we have curated some of the top universities for mechanical engineering in USA:

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2. Stanford University
3. University of California, Berkeley
4. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5. Cornell University

Let's discuss each university one by one:

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT is one of the top-ranked universities across the world. Provides a range of degree programs to study. The university also offers mechanical engineering courses in the undergraduate and graduate levels. It provides a strong foundation in various mechanical or computational approaches to the design and operations of complex engineered and scientific systems. The curriculum also includes research in various areas such as applied mechanics, automotive, robotics, CAD and many more.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology World Ranking 2025	1
QS Rankings For Mechanical Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering	1
Annual Average Fees	57,590 USD
Programs Offered	BSc in Mechanical Engineering MSc in Mechanical Engineering PhD in Mechanical Engineering

2. Stanford University

The mechanical engineering program at Stanford exposes to theoretical and practical experiences form a foundation from which to develop solutions and provides environments with an accumulation of knowledge in the field. It will give you a solid grounding in the principles and practices of mechanical engineering and equip the students with lifetime learning while employing new concepts, technologies and methodologies.

Stanford University World Ranking 2025	6
QS Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering	2
Annual Average Fees	56,482 USD
Programs Offered	BSc in Mechanical Engineering MSc in Mechanical Engineering

3. University of California, Berkeley

The UC Berkeley mechanical engineering is one of the top-ranked public mechanical engineering programs across the nation and is consistently ranked as one of the top mechanical engineering departments in the world. The program has its roots in the classical theory of elastic materials and solid mechanics that has grown to embrace every aspect involving the behaviour of deformed bodies under the load.

University of California, Berkeley World Ranking 2025	12
QS Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering	6
Annual Average Fees	26,544 USD
Programs Offered	BS in Mechanical Engineering MS in Mechanical Engineering MEng in Mechanical Engineering

4. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

The university offers mechanical engineering with a multidisciplinary approach that balances the trend-setting research, challenging coursework and a real-world impact. It gives the opportunity to develop a personalized academic program to strengthen knowledge of mechanical fundamentals in a specific area. It offers three different MSE degree programs in ME i.e. coursework, coursework with an individual research project and coursework with an MSE thesis.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor World Ranking 2025	44
QS Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering	11
Annual Average Fees	48,542 USD
Programs Offered	MS in Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Engineering MSE + Master of Management Mechanical Engineering MSE + Sustainable Systems MS PhD in Mechanical Engineering

5. Cornell University

Cornell mechanical engineering is designed to provide a broad background in the fundamentals of this discipline, as well as offers an introduction to many professionals and technical areas with which mechanical engineers are concerned with. The university provides the program in two main areas of concentration mechanical systems and material processing and engineering of fluids, energy and heat transfer systems.

Cornell University World Ranking 2025	16
QS Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering	20
Annual Average Fees	62,456 USD
Programs Offered	MEng in Mechanical Engineering MSc in Mechanical Engineering PhD in Mechanical Engineering

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Admission Requirements and Eligibility Criteria For Mechanical Engineering in USA

If you are looking to study at the best mechanical engineering colleges in USA, you should consider the complete eligibility criteria and requirements given below. Although these can vary from one university to another, a standard process is followed by all.

• Educational Qualifications
• English Language Proficiency Test
• GRE or GMAT Scores
• Work Experience
• US Student Visa

Let's discuss each one in detail:

Educational Qualifications

The educational qualifications will depend on the level, of course, you are seeking. For a Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, you need to have a qualified higher secondary certificate with a good academic score.

For masters in Mechanical Engineering in USA, you need to present a bachelor's degree in mechanical or any related engineering degree. A minimum of 3.0 GPA on a scale of 4.0 is also required.

And if you have completed your bachelors or masters in mechanical engineering or any engineering field. These degrees are for getting into a PhD mechanical engineering university in USA.

English Language Proficiency Test

If you are coming from a non-English background and haven't completed your previous instructions in English, you need to provide a language proficiency score for admission. The minimum test scores in terms of two popular tests are:

• TOEFL: 90 - 110
• IELTS: 6.0 - 7.0

GRE or GMAT Scores

There are some top mechanical engineering colleges in USA that demand GRE or GMAT scores.

• GMAT: 625 - 700
• GRE: 270 - 340

Work Experience

Work experience is not essential for a bachelor degree in mechanical engineering. However, if you are seeking a master's or PhD in the top mechanical engineering universities in USA, you need to provide a minimum of two years of experience for an extra edge in the application.

US Student Visa

To apply for mechanical engineering in USA for international students, you must have a US student visa and passport. You can apply for the visa after getting an acceptance letter from a university. Make sure to apply at least three months prior to the date of travel.

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Documents Required For Mechanical Engineering in USA

To meet all the educational requirements related to the admission process for mechanical engineering courses in USA, there are some sets of documents which are required in the submission process. Ensure the below are checked by you:

• Online application form
• Academic Transcripts
• Entrance test scorecards
• Statement of Purpose
• Two or three letters of recommendation
• ELP Test scores
• CV or Resume
• Proof of financial resources
• GRE scores/GMAT scores

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Admission Process For Mechanical Engineering in USA

Now you have met all the requirements and gathered your documents for the best US universities for mechanical engineering courses. The next step for you is to apply for admission. Here is a step-by-step guide you can follow

• First identify which university offers mechanical engineering courses else, you can also refer to the above-mentioned universities.
• Once you select it, create it into a list and visit their official website to check every minute requirements.
• Pay the required application fees and fill up the application form.
• Submit all the gathered documents before the application deadline.
• Attend the university interview if any invite has been sent to you.
• Once attended, wait for the application letter, and arrange required depository funds for the university.

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Now you know all the requirements and admission process for mechanical engineering in US universities. Let's look at the cost of studying in USA:

Cost of Studying Mechanical Engineering in USA

The opportunities after mechanical engineering in US are tremendous, which is why every year, countless students consider this country for their studies. Since you are also one of them, having the knowledge about cost matters to you. The cost of studying this course in USA may depend on two things, i.e tuition fees and the living costs.

Tuition Fees

The tuition fees charged for mechanical engineering courses in US is based on the level of the program. The annual fees for a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering is 27,000 USD to 63,000 USD. And for masters courses, it is between 22,000 USD to 53,000 USD per year.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in USA while pursuing a course will depend on your accommodation and preferences. The average cost to stay in any location in USA is between 1,200 USD to 2,700 USD per month. This may include your food, transportation, stationary and other miscellaneous expenses.

As it is evident from the above discussion that the costs of pursuing a mechanical engineering degree in the US can be high, where getting scholarships can be really helpful.

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Scholarships For Mechanical Engineering in USA

Catering for the Mechanical Engineering degree in US fees don't have to be much difficult. Many universities offer various types of scholarships for international students to cover their expenses. These scholarships are either university-specific or from external sources. A lot of them also cover your tuition fees, travel costs, materials etc.

Here is a list of some scholarships to avail to study mechanical engineering in USA for international students:

Scholarship Name	Eligibility	Benefits
Knight Fellowship, Cornell University	Students must have enrolled into a MEng program at the university.	Upto 60,000
National Overseas Scholarship, Yale University	Must have a minimum of 55% in bachelor degree and have a English Proficiency Test.	15,400 USD
Fulbright Scholarships India, Yale	Graduate Students with at least 55% in undergraduate and have a minimum of 3+ work experience.	Varies
Northwestern University Scholarship	Students must have good academics and as per their demonstrated financial nedd	Upto 40,000 USD
International Education Fee Scholarship, Texas A&M	Students having a good academic records	Tuition Fees

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Career Opportunities After Completing Mechanical Engineering in USA

The scope of mechanical engineering in USA is immense. Once you have completed your mechanical engineering degree from US universities, there is a range of job profiles to choose from. In fact, as per US Bureau of Labour Statistics, the requirement for mechanical engineers in the US is projected to grow by 4% by 2030.

Here are some of the popular job profiles you can choose after graduation in USA:

Job Profile	Average Salary
Mechanical Engineer	84,982 USD
Mechanical Design Engineer	80,184 USD
Project Engineer	79,485 USD
Manufacturing Engineer	79,066 USD
HVAC Mechanical Engineer	92,631 USD
System Dynamic Engineer	86,212 USD

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With this we can say that you can discover the present trends and methods for on-site work by pursuing a bachelor's or masters in mechanical engineering universities in USA. You may graduate as a skilled professional who can make sure that the structures and designs of modern technologies are secure and innovative. If you want to know more about mechanical engineering in USA, connect with our Yocket Professionals today.