⚙️

Best Engineering Programs 2026

Best engineering programs ranked by starting salary. Compare mechanical, electrical, civil, and chemical engineering across schools.

25 programs ranked
$80,414 avg salary
19 public schools
💻 Computer Science⚙️ Engineering📊 Business & Finance🏥 Nursing🧾 Accounting📈 Economics🧬 Biology & Biomedical🩺 Pre-Med & Health Sciences📡 Data Science & Analytics🔒 Cybersecurity📐 Mathematics & Statistics🏛️ Political Science & Government🧠 Psychology🎤 Communications & Media📰 Journalism⚖️ Criminal Justice🤝 Social Work📚 Liberal Arts & Humanities🏺 History💭 Philosophy👥 Sociology📖 Education & Teaching⚛️ Physics & Physical Sciences🌿 Environmental Science🏛️ Public Health🏗️ Architecture🎨 Graphic Design & Visual Arts🎬 Film & Cinema🎵 Music🌾 Agriculture & Agribusiness
View as table
RankProgramSchoolStateMedian SalaryAnnual CostValue ScoreBreak-Even
1Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringUniversity of California-BerkeleyCA$126,367$13,481/yr99/1000.6 yr
2Computer EngineeringUniversity of California-Los AngelesCA$110,139$12,548/yr99/1000.7 yr
3Computer EngineeringUniversity of Southern CaliforniaCA$106,621$31,927/yr99/1001.8 yr
4Computer EngineeringUniversity of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL$88,455$15,201/yr98/1001.2 yr
5Computer EngineeringUniversity of California-Santa BarbaraCA$83,726$13,825/yr98/1001.1 yr
6Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringUniversity of Southern CaliforniaCA$81,661$31,927/yr98/1002.6 yr
7Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringUniversity of California-Los AngelesCA$78,867$12,548/yr99/1001.1 yr
8Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical EngineeringUniversity of Southern CaliforniaCA$78,078$31,927/yr98/1002.8 yr
9Computer EngineeringUniversity of FloridaFL$76,743$6,351/yr99/1000.7 yr
10Mining and Mineral EngineeringUniversity of ArizonaAZ$76,657$15,960/yr95/1001.5 yr
11Civil EngineeringUniversity of Southern CaliforniaCA$75,576$31,927/yr97/1002.9 yr
12Systems EngineeringUniversity of FloridaFL$75,217$6,351/yr99/1000.7 yr
13Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringUniversity of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL$74,981$15,201/yr98/1001.5 yr
14Biomedical/Medical EngineeringUniversity of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL$74,716$15,201/yr98/1001.5 yr
15Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of Southern CaliforniaCA$74,693$31,927/yr97/1003 yr
16Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringIowa State UniversityIA$74,299$18,165/yr96/1001.8 yr
17Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of California-BerkeleyCA$73,836$13,481/yr98/1001.3 yr
18Chemical EngineeringUniversity of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL$73,493$15,201/yr97/1001.6 yr
19Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringUniversity of ArizonaAZ$73,122$15,960/yr94/1001.6 yr
20Chemical EngineeringUniversity of FloridaFL$72,850$6,351/yr98/1000.7 yr
21Computer EngineeringIowa State UniversityIA$72,598$18,165/yr95/1001.9 yr
22Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringUniversity of FloridaFL$72,430$6,351/yr98/1000.7 yr
23Chemical EngineeringTulane University of LouisianaLA$72,159$43,939/yr84/1004.3 yr
24Construction EngineeringIowa State UniversityIA$71,580$18,165/yr95/1001.9 yr
25Chemical EngineeringUniversity of ArizonaAZ$71,489$15,960/yr93/1001.7 yr
1

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

99/100Public

University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA

$126,367 median salary$13,481/yr net cost0.6 yr break-even+321% vs. HS diploma
2

Computer Engineering

99/100Public

University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA

$110,139 median salary$12,548/yr net cost0.7 yr break-even+267% vs. HS diploma
3

Computer Engineering

99/100

University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA

$106,621 median salary$31,927/yr net cost1.8 yr break-even+255% vs. HS diploma
4

Computer Engineering

98/100Public

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL

$88,455 median salary$15,201/yr net cost1.2 yr break-even+195% vs. HS diploma
5

Computer Engineering

98/100Public

University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA

$83,726 median salary$13,825/yr net cost1.1 yr break-even+179% vs. HS diploma
6

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

98/100

University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA

$81,661 median salary$31,927/yr net cost2.6 yr break-even+172% vs. HS diploma
7

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

99/100Public

University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA

$78,867 median salary$12,548/yr net cost1.1 yr break-even+163% vs. HS diploma
8

Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering

98/100

University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA

$78,078 median salary$31,927/yr net cost2.8 yr break-even+160% vs. HS diploma
9

Computer Engineering

99/100Public

University of Florida · Gainesville, FL

$76,743 median salary$6,351/yr net cost0.7 yr break-even+156% vs. HS diploma
10

Mining and Mineral Engineering

95/100Public

University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ

$76,657 median salary$15,960/yr net cost1.5 yr break-even+156% vs. HS diploma
11

Civil Engineering

97/100

University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA

$75,576 median salary$31,927/yr net cost2.9 yr break-even+152% vs. HS diploma
12

Systems Engineering

99/100Public

University of Florida · Gainesville, FL

$75,217 median salary$6,351/yr net cost0.7 yr break-even+151% vs. HS diploma
13

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering

98/100Public

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL

$74,981 median salary$15,201/yr net cost1.5 yr break-even+150% vs. HS diploma
14

Biomedical/Medical Engineering

98/100Public

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL

$74,716 median salary$15,201/yr net cost1.5 yr break-even+149% vs. HS diploma
15

Mechanical Engineering

97/100

University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA

$74,693 median salary$31,927/yr net cost3 yr break-even+149% vs. HS diploma
16

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

96/100Public

Iowa State University · Ames, IA

$74,299 median salary$18,165/yr net cost1.8 yr break-even+148% vs. HS diploma
17

Mechanical Engineering

98/100Public

University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA

$73,836 median salary$13,481/yr net cost1.3 yr break-even+146% vs. HS diploma
18

Chemical Engineering

97/100Public

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL

$73,493 median salary$15,201/yr net cost1.6 yr break-even+145% vs. HS diploma
19

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

94/100Public

University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ

$73,122 median salary$15,960/yr net cost1.6 yr break-even+144% vs. HS diploma
20

Chemical Engineering

98/100Public

University of Florida · Gainesville, FL

$72,850 median salary$6,351/yr net cost0.7 yr break-even+143% vs. HS diploma
21

Computer Engineering

95/100Public

Iowa State University · Ames, IA

$72,598 median salary$18,165/yr net cost1.9 yr break-even+142% vs. HS diploma
22

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

98/100Public

University of Florida · Gainesville, FL

$72,430 median salary$6,351/yr net cost0.7 yr break-even+141% vs. HS diploma
23

Chemical Engineering

84/100

Tulane University of Louisiana · New Orleans, LA

$72,159 median salary$43,939/yr net cost4.3 yr break-even+141% vs. HS diploma
24

Construction Engineering

95/100Public

Iowa State University · Ames, IA

$71,580 median salary$18,165/yr net cost1.9 yr break-even+139% vs. HS diploma
25

Chemical Engineering

93/100Public

University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ

$71,489 median salary$15,960/yr net cost1.7 yr break-even+138% vs. HS diploma

📝 Related Articles About Engineering

Is an Engineering Degree Worth It in 2025? How AI and Automation Are Reshaping the Field

Engineering degree ROI in 2025: median salaries, job outlook, and how AI is transforming engineering careers. Complete analysis for smart college investment decisions.

Engineering at State Schools: Where the Best Programs Actually Are

The best engineering programs are at state schools. Rankings, salary data, and what makes these public university engineering programs stand out.

Engineering at State Schools: Where the Best Programs Actually Are

Top state school engineering programs ranked by outcomes, employer reputation, and salary data. You don't need MIT to succeed.

Highest Paying Engineering Degrees 2026: Ranked by Salary

Which engineering major pays the most in 2026? We rank the top engineering degrees by starting and mid-career salary using real labor market data.

Compare Schools Side by Side

See how different engineering programs stack up on cost, salary, and graduation rates.

Compare SchoolsOverall Rankings

Rankings are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Programs are ranked by median earnings 1 year after completion. Data reflects bachelor's degree programs only.