MAJOR GUIDE · 2026

Best Colleges for Engineering: Ranked by Graduate Salary, Not Prestige
— ranked by salary, not prestige.

Q: Should I pick a school based on Engineering ranking or overall prestige?

Major-specific salary outcomes beat overall school prestige for most career paths. A top program in Engineering at a less famous school often outperforms a mid-tier program at a brand-name school. The salary table on this page ranks programs by what graduates actually earn, not by reputation surveys.

We rank by what graduates actually earn — not by reputation surveys.

The ranking

sortable · by salary outcomes

Rank	School	Salary	Accept	Verdict
①	Caltech	$128,339	3.1%	REACH
②	MIT	$128,339	4.7%	REACH
③	UC Berkeley	$112,752	11.7%	REACH
04	Brown University	$111,600	5.2%	REACH
05	Columbia University	$111,600	4.2%	REACH
06	Cornell University	$111,600	8.2%	REACH
07	Dartmouth College	$111,600	6.2%	REACH
08	Duke University	$111,600	6.8%	REACH
09	Harvard University	$111,600	3.5%	REACH
10	Johns Hopkins University	$111,600	7.6%	REACH
11	New York University (NYU)	$111,600	9.4%	REACH
12	Northeastern University	$111,600	5.7%	REACH
13	Northwestern University	$111,600	7.1%	REACH
14	Princeton University	$111,600	4.5%	REACH
15	Rice University	$111,600	7.9%	REACH
16	Stanford University	$111,600	3.9%	REACH
17	Swarthmore College	$111,600	6.9%	REACH
18	UCLA	$111,600	9.0%	REACH
19	University of Chicago	$111,600	4.8%	REACH
20	University of Pennsylvania	$111,600	5.9%	REACH
21	Vanderbilt University	$111,600	6.3%	REACH
22	Yale University	$111,600	4.5%	REACH
23	Georgia Tech	$106,920	16.5%	MATCH
24	Boston University	$104,400	10.8%	REACH
25	Carnegie Mellon University	$104,400	11.4%	REACH
26	Claremont McKenna College	$104,400	11.1%	REACH
27	Tufts University	$104,400	10.1%	REACH
28	Tulane University	$104,400	14.6%	REACH
29	University of Notre Dame	$104,400	12.4%	REACH
30	USC	$104,400	10.0%	REACH

Engineering Major FAQs

Which college has the highest Engineering salary?

Caltech Engineering graduates earn the highest median 4-year-out salary on this list, at $128,339. Salary by program is the most reliable signal for ROI on major choice.

What is the most competitive Engineering program?

Caltech is the most selective school on this list with a 3.1% overall acceptance rate. Top programs in Engineering often admit at significantly lower rates than the school-wide average.

Which colleges have an easier path to study Engineering?

Among schools on this list, Georgia Tech is the most accessible at a 16.5% acceptance rate. Less selective schools can still produce strong Engineering grads — what matters is fit, faculty, and your own work.

What GPA do I need for Engineering programs?

GPA requirements vary widely. Reach schools (acceptance < 20%) typically expect 3.8+ unweighted GPAs with rigorous coursework. Match schools (20-50%) expect 3.3-3.7. Less selective schools may admit at 3.0+. Major-specific admission (engineering, CS, business) is often tougher than the school average.

Should I pick a school based on Engineering ranking or overall prestige?

Major-specific salary outcomes beat overall school prestige for most career paths. A top program in Engineering at a less famous school often outperforms a mid-tier program at a brand-name school. The salary table on this page ranks programs by what graduates actually earn, not by reputation surveys.

Data source: IPEDS, College Scorecard.

Best Colleges for Engineering: Ranked by Graduate Salary, Not Prestige— ranked by salary, not prestige.

The ranking

Engineering Major FAQs

Plug your stats in. We'll tell you where you stand.

Best Colleges for Engineering: Ranked by Graduate Salary, Not Prestige
— ranked by salary, not prestige.