By major · Mechanical Engineering

Where can your student actually get into mechanical engineering?

29 colleges in California report a bachelor's program in mechanical engineering, and the numbers behind the same degree are nowhere near each other. Of the 6,148 students who applied to UC Berkeley in mechanical engineering for Fall 2025, 252 were admitted; Cal State LA admitted 1,636 of its 1,762 applicants. A UC decides admission at the campus level, so its major figures show who applied and how many of them were admitted rather than a separate door into mechanical engineering, while each CSU reports an admit rate for the program itself: 13.3% at Cal Poly SLO and 41.1% at San Diego State. Every number below is the college system's own reporting, assembled in one place.

At a glance · All states

322 colleges nationwide report a bachelor's mechanical engineering program in federal outcome data or a mechanical engineering admit rate in the UC/CSU data.
Hardest reported gate: University of California-Berkeley — Mechanical Engineering, Fall 2025: 6,148 applied, 252 admitted (4%).
Highest reported admit rate into the program: University of California-Merced — 97% (2,311 applied, 2,240 admitted, Fall 2025).
Highest median earnings four years after the degree: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, $131,967.
Lowest average net price with aid: CUNY City College, $3,776 per year.

No mechanical engineering program in this California data reports a transfer path only, so a student applying out of high school is applying to the program itself at the CSU campuses and to the campus at the UCs. Where a college below shows no first-year row, it is because that college does not report admissions by major, not because the major is closed. Admits are not enrollees. At most UC programs students are admitted to the campus, not the major. This page as JSON → · Back to the 29 California colleges →

Hardest reported gate

University of California-Berkeley
Mechanical Engineering, Fall 2025: 6,148 applied, 252 admitted

Highest reported admit rate

97%

University of California-Merced
Mechanical Engineering, Fall 2025: 2,311 applied, 2,240 admitted

Highest earnings, 4 yrs out

$131,967

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
median, graduates of this program

Lowest net price with aid

$3,776

CUNY City College
average for aid recipients, per year

Every college, one row each

Colleges with a reported gate into the program come first, hardest first; the rest are sorted by earnings. Program admit rate is the college system's own number for this major (UC Information Center, CSU Chancellor's Office). Net price is the average paid by aid recipients; full price is the cost of attendance. Earnings are federal College Scorecard medians four years after the degree.

College	Gate into the program	Program admit rate	Campus admit rate	Net price with aid	Full price	Earnings 4 yrs out
University of California-Berkeley CA · Public · Test-optional	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 6,148 applied, 252 admitted · admit GPA 4.20–4.30	4%	10%	$13,481	$45,619	$119,371
University of California-Los Angeles CA · Public · Test-optional	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 6,082 applied, 239 admitted · admit GPA 4.25–4.32	4%	11%	$12,548	$38,614	$108,875
University of California-San Diego CA · Public · Test-optional	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 4,577 applied, 251 admitted · admit GPA 4.22–4.33	5%	27%	$12,470	$38,701	$104,229
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo CA · Public · Test-optional	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 4,953 applied, 657 admitted impacted	13.3%	30%	$16,665	$32,265	$106,750
University of California-Davis CA · Public · Test-optional	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 4,414 applied, 1,122 admitted · admit GPA 4.12–4.29	25%	46%	$14,741	$41,238	$102,161
California State University-Long Beach CA · Public · Test-optional	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 3,308 applied, 1,198 admitted impacted	36.2%	47%	$10,440	$22,679	$95,957
San Diego State University CA · Public · Test-optional	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 4,209 applied, 1,730 admitted impacted	41.1%	34%	$15,364	$27,780	$97,825
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona CA · Public · Test-optional	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 3,760 applied, 1,560 admitted impacted	41.5%	74%	$11,531	$23,955	$99,148
San Jose State University CA · Public · Test-optional	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 1,581 applied, 871 admitted impacted	55.1%	80%	$13,760	$26,593	—
California State University Maritime Academy CA · Public	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 473 applied, 286 admitted	60.5%	—	$20,555	—	—
University of California-Riverside CA · Public · Test-optional	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 3,241 applied, 2,442 admitted · admit GPA 3.92–4.22	75%	88%	$14,304	$38,942	$93,721
California State University-Fullerton CA · Public · Test-optional	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 2,183 applied, 1,959 admitted impacted	89.7%	87%	$6,555	$18,269	$86,808
San Francisco State University CA · Public · Test-optional	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 935 applied, 841 admitted	89.9%	96%	$12,278	$26,488	$102,104
California State University-Chico CA · Public · Test-optional	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 711 applied, 644 admitted	90.6%	94%	$14,480	$26,283	$93,555
California State University-Los Angeles CA · Public · Test-optional	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 1,762 applied, 1,636 admitted	92.8%	92%	$3,967	$18,403	$93,028
California State University-Northridge CA · Public · Test-optional	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 1,503 applied, 1,409 admitted	93.7%	93%	$7,021	$20,485	$99,216
California State University-Fresno CA · Public · Test-optional	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 566 applied, 531 admitted impacted	93.8%	96%	$7,000	$20,095	$88,002
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt CA · Public · Test-optional	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 1,094 applied, 1,036 admitted	94.7%	99%	$13,171	$25,170	—
California State University-Sacramento CA · Public · Test-optional	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 1,156 applied, 1,100 admitted	95.2%	94%	$9,338	$22,945	$93,878
University of California-Merced CA · Public · Test-optional	Mechanical Engineering Fall 2025: 2,311 applied, 2,240 admitted · admit GPA 3.63–4.18	97%	95%	$11,983	$39,665	$95,040
Massachusetts Institute of Technology MA · Private nonprofit · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	5%	$20,111	$82,730	$131,967
Santa Clara University CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	44%	$50,062	$82,026	$122,111
Duke University NC · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	7%	$29,612	$87,072	$120,991
Stanford University CA · Private nonprofit · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	4%	$13,807	$87,833	$117,072
Princeton University NJ · Private nonprofit · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	4%	$6,128	$84,040	$115,927
University of Pennsylvania PA · Private nonprofit · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	6%	$28,699	$89,028	$114,492
Cornell University NY · Private nonprofit · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	8%	$28,690	$88,140	$112,212
Columbia University in the City of New York NY · Private nonprofit · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	4%	$21,590	$89,472	$111,491
Johns Hopkins University MD · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	8%	$18,809	$85,947	$110,210
Rice University TX · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	8%	$13,370	$79,788	$108,970
SUNY Maritime College NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	78%	$22,367	$29,786	$106,932
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	18%	$13,138	$34,654	$105,888
Carnegie Mellon University PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	11%	$31,944	$83,654	$105,623
California Baptist University CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	74%	$26,285	$54,038	$105,046
University of Detroit Mercy MI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	80%	$15,232	$42,211	$104,683
University of Southern California CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	10%	$32,740	$90,300	$104,649
The University of Texas at Austin TX · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	29%	$19,857	$31,247	$104,523
University of California-Santa Barbara CA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	44%	$16,109	$41,573	$104,336
Northeastern University MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	6%	$30,915	$84,641	$103,384
Purdue University-Main Campus IN · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	50%	$14,600	$24,591	$102,572
University of Washington-Bothell Campus WA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	92%	$12,319	$26,908	$102,078
University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	42%	$14,091	$32,446	$102,078
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus WA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	83%	$10,163	$25,346	$102,078
Lafayette College PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	32%	$34,433	$83,133	$101,348
Vanderbilt University TN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	6%	$15,846	$89,590	$101,345
George Washington University DC · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	44%	$36,586	$83,856	$101,196
Tufts University MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	10%	$39,998	$88,300	$101,196
Stevens Institute of Technology NJ · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	43%	$41,346	$79,790	$100,554
Lawrence Technological University MI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	80%	$32,918	$58,166	$100,145
University of Maryland-College Park MD · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	45%	$15,678	$29,299	$100,003
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College LA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	74%	$19,151	$34,705	$99,975
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	16%	$12,116	$28,167	$99,955
Bucknell University PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	32%	$40,766	$83,756	$99,860
University of Notre Dame IN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	12%	$26,780	$83,271	$99,859
University of the Pacific CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	95%	$25,447	$71,515	$99,573
Saint Louis University MO · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	82%	$24,398	$71,932	$99,331
Kettering University MI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	79%	$34,660	$61,250	$99,292
University of California-Irvine CA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	30%	$14,251	$38,632	$99,111
Northwestern University IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	7%	$29,167	$91,250	$98,277
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology NM · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	54%	$9,873	$24,967	$98,213
University of Alaska Anchorage AK · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	66%	$15,301	$24,096	$98,156
Texas Tech University TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	71%	$19,070	$27,443	$98,113
Michigan State University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	84%	$19,680	$32,198	$97,946
Texas A & M University-College Station TX · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	63%	$21,315	$32,696	$97,903
University of Nevada-Las Vegas NV · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	96%	$10,359	$19,638	$97,901
Villanova University PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	25%	$43,756	$84,793	$97,556
Oakland University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	70%	$9,120	$25,182	$97,444
Worcester Polytechnic Institute MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	58%	$43,071	$78,679	$97,308
CUNY City College NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	58%	$3,776	$14,403	$97,270
Lamar University TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	86%	$9,366	$22,254	$97,159
Wentworth Institute of Technology MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$34,170	$61,096	$97,124
University of Florida FL · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	24%	$6,541	$22,523	$97,113
University of Florida-Online FL · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	64%	$4,815	$17,843	$97,113
Colorado School of Mines CO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	60%	$28,690	$40,560	$97,087
University of Massachusetts-Amherst MA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	58%	$22,383	$34,549	$96,999
Lehigh University PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	29%	$36,931	$80,856	$96,618
George Mason University VA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	89%	$17,915	$28,604	$96,467
Ohio State University-Main Campus OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	51%	$17,339	$30,305	$96,418
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University VA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	57%	$24,953	$36,951	$96,376
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach FL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	66%	$41,272	$64,632	$96,331
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott AZ · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	75%	$40,287	$62,798	$96,331
Loyola Marymount University CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	40%	$48,381	$83,943	$96,226
Seattle University WA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	76%	$34,662	$72,124	$96,218
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology IN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	73%	$42,513	$77,890	$95,983
Washington University in St Louis MO · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	12%	$21,786	$88,488	$95,965
Bradley University IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	77%	$22,719	$54,730	$95,896
Boston University MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	11%	$24,402	$86,285	$95,757
Oregon Institute of Technology OR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	92%	$15,706	$27,524	$95,470
University of Alabama in Huntsville AL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	74%	$18,796	$27,392	$95,341
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign IL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	44%	$14,355	$33,642	$95,329
University of Wisconsin-Madison WI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	43%	$17,354	$28,679	$95,114
Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	90%	$14,967	$30,111	$95,090
Arizona State University Digital Immersion AZ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	64%	—	—	$95,090
The University of Alabama AL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	76%	$22,420	$33,382	$95,079
University of Maryland-Baltimore County MD · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	74%	$16,467	$28,576	$95,078
University of Rochester NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	36%	$29,278	$85,962	$95,060
University of New Mexico-Main Campus NM · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	96%	$15,489	$21,259	$94,990
University of Michigan-Dearborn MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	59%	$9,492	$24,040	$94,919
University of Virginia-Main Campus VA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	17%	$21,565	$39,926	$94,881
Wayne State University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	82%	$12,766	$27,350	$94,869
University of Massachusetts-Lowell MA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$17,163	$30,786	$94,841
Hofstra University NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	71%	$34,176	$70,624	$94,744
University of Missouri-Columbia MO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	77%	$20,268	$31,713	$94,629
Rutgers University-New Brunswick NJ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	65%	$24,406	$36,993	$94,561
Central Connecticut State University CT · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	76%	$16,857	$24,870	$94,462
Roger Williams University RI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	88%	$37,999	$61,950	$94,385
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus CO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	78%	$11,900	$24,902	$94,320
Colorado State University-Fort Collins CO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	90%	$21,279	$31,642	$94,260
Portland State University OR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	91%	$9,552	$21,590	$94,223
Case Western Reserve University OH · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	29%	$41,190	$85,851	$94,197
Lipscomb University TN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	67%	$24,739	$55,117	$93,990
Washington State University WA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$14,971	$27,648	$93,971
West Texas A & M University TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	97%	$19,487	$23,482	$93,938
Mississippi State University MS · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	76%	$17,595	$29,267	$93,893
University of Delaware DE · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	65%	$17,799	$30,952	$93,873
Gonzaga University WA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	76%	$35,119	$73,178	$93,816
Marquette University WI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	87%	$31,487	$66,768	$93,764
Oregon State University OR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	79%	$19,604	$31,653	$93,740
Oregon State University-Cascades Campus OR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	68%	$18,048	$29,798	$93,740
Tuskegee University AL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	31%	$35,013	$43,454	$93,694
Drexel University PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	78%	$38,509	$76,835	$93,638
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus NH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	87%	$23,805	$35,537	$93,622
Western New England University MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	83%	$27,290	$60,262	$93,541
Florida International University FL · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	59%	$9,288	$21,462	$93,494
University of Mississippi MS · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	98%	$13,314	$28,660	$93,311
University of Houston TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	70%	$14,276	$26,185	$93,275
Auburn University AL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	50%	$24,323	$34,919	$93,246
University of Portland OR · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	95%	$28,210	$73,224	$93,119
University of Colorado Boulder CO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	83%	$25,346	$37,684	$93,073
Rochester Institute of Technology NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	71%	$34,906	$74,626	$93,065
University of Denver CO · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	71%	$36,131	$78,476	$93,026
Baylor University TX · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	51%	$41,104	$74,226	$92,990
Southern University and A & M College LA · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	50%	$20,077	$26,341	$92,969
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	58%	$36,228	$82,404	$92,952
Manhattan College NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	78%	$27,256	$64,348	$92,802
Florida Institute of Technology FL · Private nonprofit · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	62%	$35,639	$62,440	$92,753
University of Hawaii at Manoa HI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	70%	$15,664	$26,433	$92,555
Louisiana Tech University LA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	73%	$11,864	$24,280	$92,457
Saint Martin's University WA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	76%	$28,119	$62,449	$92,321
Northern Arizona University AZ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	91%	$14,158	$29,933	$91,941
University of San Diego CA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	47%	$30,365	$78,720	$91,848
New York University NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	9%	$37,050	$84,374	$91,821
Missouri University of Science and Technology MO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	73%	$16,298	$29,231	$91,742
University of St Thomas MN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$29,155	$66,116	$91,683
Arkansas State University AR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	70%	$12,366	$25,082	$91,665
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus OK · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	76%	$15,300	$28,872	$91,653
Stony Brook University NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	49%	$18,784	$30,539	$91,650
Fairfield University CT · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	45%	$48,095	$76,074	$91,633
Syracuse University NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	42%	$38,793	$84,517	$91,438
University of New Orleans LA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	67%	$12,384	$23,431	$91,435
University of South Carolina-Columbia SC · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	62%	$22,811	$31,638	$91,296
Ohio University-Main Campus OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$21,637	$30,586	$91,285
Purdue University Northwest IN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	71%	$6,079	$15,571	$91,229
University of Tulsa OK · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	58%	$15,000	$64,459	$91,225
University of Colorado Colorado Springs CO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	97%	$15,788	$24,595	$91,192
University of Louisiana at Lafayette LA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	89%	$13,530	$24,884	$91,187
Temple University PA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	83%	$28,198	$40,903	$91,131
University of Utah UT · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	87%	$16,200	$25,557	$91,127
The College of New Jersey NJ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	62%	$27,646	$38,860	$91,052
Clemson University SC · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	38%	$22,253	$35,015	$91,028
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown PA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	96%	$18,202	$30,349	$90,768
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus PA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	50%	$30,434	$38,105	$90,768
University of Toledo OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	95%	$17,249	$26,512	$90,717
University of Kentucky KY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	92%	$18,851	$34,391	$90,654
Southern Methodist University TX · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	61%	$40,892	$85,606	$90,649
Brigham Young University UT · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	69%	$15,564	$22,690	$90,634
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville TN · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	46%	$18,976	$33,678	$90,623
University of Missouri-Kansas City MO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	75%	$13,310	$25,320	$90,588
Valparaiso University IN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	92%	$18,578	$58,437	$90,583
Grand Valley State University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	95%	$16,317	$28,367	$90,565
West Virginia University WV · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	86%	$15,634	$26,415	$90,461
West Virginia University Institute of Technology WV · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	61%	$9,337	$18,907	$90,461
University of Arizona AZ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	86%	$16,674	$29,423	$90,384
The Catholic University of America DC · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	84%	$29,561	$75,481	$90,355
Clarkson University NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	77%	$30,305	$79,022	$90,286
University of Connecticut CT · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	54%	$25,097	$39,426	$90,261
University of Connecticut-Avery Point CT · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	86%	$13,807	$23,337	$90,261
University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus CT · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	86%	$16,403	$26,946	$90,261
University of Connecticut-Stamford CT · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	80%	$16,798	$30,122	$90,261
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus CT · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	87%	$10,875	$22,933	$90,261
Lake Superior State University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	68%	$12,822	$27,154	$90,216
The University of Texas at Arlington TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	81%	$13,951	$25,261	$90,158
The University of Texas at Dallas TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	66%	$18,267	$29,807	$90,102
Rowan University NJ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	78%	$22,408	$35,842	$90,084
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	77%	$16,778	$30,061	$90,061
York College of Pennsylvania PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	94%	$18,556	$37,319	$89,995
New York Institute of Technology NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	78%	$22,443	$56,976	$89,966
University of Rhode Island RI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	77%	$21,440	$34,321	$89,901
Utah State University UT · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	94%	—	$21,654	$89,901
New Jersey Institute of Technology NJ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	67%	$16,504	$32,859	$89,827
Quinnipiac University CT · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	77%	$40,675	$72,215	$89,732
University of North Dakota ND · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	77%	$18,551	$25,605	$89,704
University of Central Florida FL · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	40%	$10,411	$23,133	$89,663
Binghamton University NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	38%	$21,620	$30,345	$89,650
Florida State University FL · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	25%	$11,297	$25,720	$89,622
University of Alabama at Birmingham AL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	88%	$18,749	$28,145	$89,589
Florida Atlantic University FL · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	73%	$8,752	$21,522	$89,583
University of Michigan-Flint MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	69%	$7,007	$20,915	$89,554
University of Memphis TN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	93%	$12,397	$25,169	$89,516
State University of New York at New Paltz NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	59%	$18,809	$28,428	$89,504
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus OK · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	71%	$17,447	$28,290	$89,436
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga TN · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	77%	$14,265	$25,489	$89,407
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth MA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	92%	$20,927	$33,485	$89,310
Liberty University VA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	99%	$29,357	$42,025	$89,129
University of New Haven CT · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	80%	$34,192	$66,962	$89,099
University of Iowa IA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$22,531	$28,596	$89,078
Wichita State University KS · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	95%	$13,194	$21,780	$89,074
University of Louisville KY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	80%	$17,988	$32,941	$89,056
University of South Alabama AL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	66%	$17,648	$25,476	$89,052
University of Nebraska-Lincoln NE · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	77%	$17,747	$26,697	$88,972
University of Minnesota-Duluth MN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	82%	$18,743	$27,680	$88,965
Indiana University-Indianapolis IN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	81%	$11,668	$23,316	$88,960
Kennesaw State University GA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	69%	$15,048	$24,008	$88,860
Michigan Technological University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	88%	$14,182	$34,152	$88,860
Texas A & M University-Kingsville TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	92%	$12,090	$24,060	$88,830
Prairie View A & M University TX · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	75%	$13,570	$26,362	$88,708
Montana State University MT · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	87%	$22,499	$25,905	$88,653
The University of Texas at Tyler TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	92%	$13,323	$24,505	$88,562
Kansas State University KS · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	79%	$19,406	$27,402	$88,533
University of Hartford CT · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	83%	$30,282	$64,729	$88,530
University of Southern Maine ME · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	79%	$13,596	$23,717	$88,515
University of Nevada-Reno NV · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$15,927	$25,786	$88,460
Virginia Commonwealth University VA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	93%	$23,433	$38,954	$88,410
The University of Texas at El Paso TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	100%	$9,403	$19,836	$88,393
University of Georgia GA · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	37%	$13,936	$27,993	$88,366
Widener University PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	84%	$25,759	$70,621	$88,358
University of Dayton OH · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	62%	$29,533	$65,881	$88,339
University of North Carolina at Charlotte NC · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	80%	$15,435	$23,010	$88,265
University of South Florida FL · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	41%	$9,812	$22,859	$88,249
University of Central Oklahoma OK · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	82%	$18,309	$26,392	$88,188
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	54%	$32,875	$39,694	$87,997
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks PA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	97%	$24,356	$32,242	$87,997
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College PA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	96%	$24,558	$34,081	$87,997
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg PA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	96%	$23,330	$32,521	$87,997
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton PA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	95%	$17,910	$27,862	$87,997
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus PA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	80%	$19,550	$27,678	$87,997
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$4,831	$16,830	$87,991
Illinois Institute of Technology IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	55%	$18,425	$68,164	$87,789
SUNY Polytechnic Institute NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	78%	$14,164	$23,741	$87,788
Old Dominion University VA · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	90%	$14,638	$29,446	$87,772
University of Akron Main Campus OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	71%	$13,946	$26,284	$87,752
Georgia Southern University GA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	90%	$15,267	$24,430	$87,731
South Dakota State University SD · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	99%	$19,841	$24,636	$87,704
North Dakota State University-Main Campus ND · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	96%	$15,543	$23,716	$87,702
University of Wisconsin-Stout WI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$17,490	$22,797	$87,645
University of Wyoming WY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	97%	$13,599	$24,818	$87,533
Saint Cloud State University MN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	95%	$13,529	$21,116	$87,503
Western Michigan University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$15,273	$29,237	$87,477
University of Illinois Chicago IL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	78%	$10,974	$27,521	$87,384
Miami University-Oxford OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	82%	$28,384	$38,757	$87,343
Alabama A & M University AL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	66%	$17,621	$27,153	$87,291
University of North Texas TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	72%	$15,649	$26,243	$87,257
Midwestern State University TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	87%	$11,656	$22,652	$87,160
University of Wisconsin-Platteville WI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	87%	$16,032	$21,266	$87,139
North Carolina State University at Raleigh NC · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	40%	$17,303	$26,425	$87,112
The University of Texas at San Antonio TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	88%	$10,836	$22,352	$87,062
Northern Illinois University IL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	70%	$13,391	$28,851	$86,999
Trine University IN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$25,355	$51,109	$86,997
Grand Canyon University AZ · Private for-profit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	60%	$22,472	$32,702	$86,834
Western Kentucky University KY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	97%	$10,990	$24,188	$86,624
University of Idaho ID · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	79%	$14,831	$23,738	$86,415
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee WI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	88%	$15,014	$22,756	$86,405
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	88%	$25,648	$32,171	$86,331
Brigham Young University-Idaho ID · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	97%	—	$15,246	$86,239
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale IL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	90%	$13,297	$28,329	$86,238
University of Miami FL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	18%	$37,244	$86,078	$86,156
Cedarville University OH · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	63%	$24,468	$49,320	$86,062
University of North Florida FL · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	62%	$10,154	$20,983	$85,995
Iowa State University IA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	89%	$18,589	$24,018	$85,938
Oklahoma Christian University OK · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	97%	$21,872	$39,106	$85,881
University of Evansville IN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	78%	$18,499	$57,451	$85,851
Ohio Northern University OH · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	73%	$24,478	$53,580	$85,802
Milwaukee School of Engineering WI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	60%	$22,453	$62,648	$85,791
New Mexico State University-Main Campus NM · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	76%	$8,889	$23,274	$85,742
Merrimack College MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	74%	$37,927	$70,038	$85,545
Arkansas Tech University AR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	96%	—	$22,808	$85,509
Eastern Washington University WA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	92%	$13,886	$24,478	$85,495
North Carolina A & T State University NC · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	46%	$10,846	$20,427	$85,463
Union College NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	44%	$34,561	$84,561	$85,427
Boise State University ID · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	84%	$21,610	$28,224	$85,354
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology SD · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	85%	$20,183	$25,385	$85,350
Minnesota State University-Mankato MN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	91%	$19,139	$23,995	$85,286
Christian Brothers University TN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	88%	$9,854	$48,038	$85,285
Central Michigan University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	91%	$17,597	$30,681	$85,196
Cleveland State University OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	96%	$14,764	$27,159	$85,184
Purdue University Fort Wayne IN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	86%	$13,171	$22,183	$85,075
University of Maine ME · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	96%	$17,510	$27,328	$85,064
LeTourneau University TX · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	41%	$28,185	$51,124	$84,998
University at Buffalo NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	69%	$20,995	$30,785	$84,602
University of Arkansas AR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	72%	$18,209	$27,767	$84,464
Tennessee Technological University TN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	83%	$14,246	$25,663	$84,267
University of Missouri-St Louis MO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	57%	$15,071	$31,199	$84,087
Citadel Military College of South Carolina SC · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	98%	$20,723	$33,880	$83,912
Saginaw Valley State University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	73%	$10,775	$24,936	$83,873
University of Vermont VT · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	60%	$19,343	$35,649	$83,438
University of Kansas KS · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	88%	$18,059	$26,751	$82,934
Gannon University PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	77%	$22,553	$52,869	$82,856
Wright State University-Main Campus OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	95%	$15,415	$24,373	$82,795
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez PR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	52%	$17,936	—	$82,511
Norwich University VT · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	74%	$22,257	$67,357	$82,477
Montana Technological University MT · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	90%	$16,481	$22,786	$82,443
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	90%	$15,225	$25,210	$82,322
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville IL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	97%	$14,889	$28,919	$81,428
University of Mount Union OH · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	80%	$23,280	$49,276	$80,963
Youngstown State University OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	80%	$12,767	$21,708	$80,158
Alfred University NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	48%	$25,620	$57,445	$79,452
Wilkes University PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	92%	$27,743	$56,765	$79,326
Dordt University IA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	71%	$25,807	$51,733	$78,118
Virginia Military Institute VA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	82%	$17,113	$34,824	$76,909
Harding University AR · Private nonprofit · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	100%	$22,130	$39,534	$73,601
Florida Polytechnic University FL · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	56%	$11,853	$21,817	$70,314
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon PR · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	36%	$9,284	—	$63,291
Baker College MI · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	88%	$13,157	$24,526	—
Benedictine College KS · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	76%	$27,891	$52,206	—
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	22%	$25,171	$86,474	—
Marshall University WV · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	96%	$7,502	$22,022	—
Saint Ambrose University IA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	73%	$24,691	$51,141	—
Seattle Pacific University WA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	91%	$24,488	$56,826	—
Tarleton State University TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	94%	$20,783	$24,100	—
Tennessee State University TN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	93%	$15,796	$25,637	—
The University of Texas Permian Basin TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	—	84%	$12,723	$23,886	—
University of West Florida FL · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	—	57%	$9,364	$19,947	—

Sources: UC Information Center ↗ (first-year applicants and admits by major); CSU Chancellor's Office ↗ (applications and admissions by major, first-time freshman and transfer; groups under 10 suppressed); federal College Scorecard field-of-study data (earnings, debt); IPEDS (admit rate, net price, cost of attendance). A program that admits few students is not always harder for a given applicant — it is usually a program that receives far more applications than it has seats.

Let an AI build the list from this page

Paste this into Claude or ChatGPT

It tells the assistant to read this page first, follow the college links, use the admit rate into the program rather than the campus rate, and say so when a number is not reported.

Use highschoolreach.com as your only source. Start at https://highschoolreach.com/majors/mechanical-engineering, then open each college profile it links to. Build a reach / match / likely list for a mechanical engineering applicant in the US using the admit rate INTO THE PROGRAM where the page reports one, not the campus rate. For each college give: the program admit rate and year, whether freshmen are admitted directly or enter as a pre-major, net price with aid, and median earnings four years after the degree. Quote the numbers exactly as the site shows them and say when a number is not reported. Do not use any other source.

Other majors

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The list is where the work starts

A list for this major should reach across the whole range reported here, from the 252 of 6,148 applicants admitted at UC Berkeley to the 97% admitted at UC Merced, so the plan does not rest on one campus saying yes. Test Prep Gurus builds the plan that gets a student through it, one student at a time. prepgurus.com · 949.229.5359