best mechanical engineering phd programs

• Twitter Facebook Pinterest
• Highest Paid
• Popular Online
• Non-Traditional

2024 Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor's Degree Schools

College Factual reviewed 129 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for doctor's degree seekers in the field of mechanical engineering. Combined, these schools handed out 1,634 doctor's degrees in mechanical engineering to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

• Best Doctor’s Degree Schools List

Choosing a Great Mechanical Engineering School for Your Doctor's Degree

A Great Overall School

The overall quality of a doctor's degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Doctor's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Early-Career Earnings

One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of doctorate graduates during the early years of their career. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue their doctor's degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

• Major Focus - How many resources a school devotes to mechanical engineering students as compared to other majors.
• Major Demand - The number of mechanical engineering students who choose to seek a doctor's degree at the school.
• Educational Resources - The amount of money and other resources allocated to students while they are pursuing their degree. These resources include such things as number of students per instructor and education expenditures per student.
• Student Debt - How easy is it for mechanical engineering to pay back their student loans after receiving their doctor's degree.
• Accreditation - Whether a school is regionally accredited and/or accredited by a recognized mechanical engineering related body.

Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for mechanical engineering students working on their doctor's degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings , including this Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor's Degree Schools list to help you make the college decision.

Best Schools for Doctorate Students to Study Mechanical Engineering in the United States

The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing a doctor's degree in mechanical engineering. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

19 Top Schools for a Doctorate in ME

It is difficult to beat Massachusetts Institute of Technology if you want to pursue a doctor's degree in mechanical engineering. Located in the medium-sized city of Cambridge, MIT is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population. More information about a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Every student pursuing a degree in a doctor's degree in mechanical engineering has to look into Stanford University. Stanford is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Stanford. More information about a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Stanford University

It is hard to beat University of Pennsylvania if you want to pursue a doctor's degree in mechanical engineering. Located in the large city of Philadelphia, UPenn is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. More information about a doctorate in mechanical engineering from University of Pennsylvania

Duke University is one of the best schools in the country for getting a doctor's degree in mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Durham, Duke is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. More information about a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Duke University

Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. More information about a doctorate in mechanical engineering from University of Notre Dame

U-M is a very large public university located in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor. More information about a doctorate in mechanical engineering from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Northwestern is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Evanston. More information about a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University

Located in the large city of Atlanta, Georgia Tech is a public school with a very large student population. More information about a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus

Located in the city of Austin, UT Austin is a public university with a fairly large student population. More information about a doctorate in mechanical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin

Purdue is a fairly large public university located in the small city of West Lafayette. More information about a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Purdue University - Main Campus

Cornell is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Ithaca. More information about a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Cornell University

Rice is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of Houston. More information about a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Rice University

USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Los Angeles. More information about a doctorate in mechanical engineering from University of Southern California

Vanderbilt is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Nashville. More information about a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Vanderbilt University

UC Berkeley is a fairly large public university located in the city of Berkeley. More information about a doctorate in mechanical engineering from University of California - Berkeley

Located in the large city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. More information about a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University

Princeton is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Princeton. More information about a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Princeton University

Located in the city of Champaign, UIUC is a public university with a fairly large student population. More information about a doctorate in mechanical engineering from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Located in the city of College Station, Texas A&M College Station is a public university with a very large student population. More information about a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University - College Station

Rest of the Top Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor's Degree Schools

Additional noteworthy schools.

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor's Degree Schools award.

Mechanical Engineering by Region

View the Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Other Rankings

Best associate degrees in mechanical engineering, best master's degrees in mechanical engineering, best value in mechanical engineering, best for non-traditional students in mechanical engineering, best online in mechanical engineering, most popular online in mechanical engineering, best bachelor's degrees in mechanical engineering, best overall in mechanical engineering, highest paid grads in mechanical engineering, best for veterans in mechanical engineering, most popular in mechanical engineering, most focused in mechanical engineering.

View All Rankings >

Rankings in Majors Related to ME

Mechanical Engineering is one of 41 different types of Engineering programs to choose from.

ME Concentrations

Majors similar to me, notes and references.

• The bars on the spread charts above show the distribution of the schools on this list +/- one standard deviation from the mean.
• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System ( IPEDS ) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s ( College Scorecard ).
• Credit for the banner image above goes to Michel Villeneuve . More about our data sources and methodologies .

Popular Reports

Compare your school options.

Doctor of Mechanical Engineering Programs in America

1-25 of 152 results

MIT School of Engineering

• Cambridge, MA ·
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology ·
• Graduate School

Massachusetts Institute of Technology ,

Graduate School ,

CAMBRIDGE, MA ,

Stanford School of Engineering

• Stanford, CA ·
• Stanford University ·
• · Rating 5 out of 5   3 reviews

Stanford University ,

STANFORD, CA ,

3 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Current Master's student says The best part about coming to Stanford are the people and the ability to find a group of friends who are interested in the same things that you may be very interested in . Coming from India, there... Overall the professors are great and are leafing professionals in their respective fields doing some of the most fascinating research in the world. I would highly anyone to come here to experience... .

Read 3 reviews.

Yale School of Engineering and Applied Science

• New Haven, CT ·
• Yale University ·

Yale University ,

NEW HAVEN, CT ,

Southern California Institute of Architecture

• Graduate School ·
• LOS ANGELES, CA
• · Rating 4.56 out of 5   9

Swanson School of Engineering

• University of Pittsburgh ·
• PITTSBURGH, PA

College of Business - University of La Verne

• University of La Verne ·
• LA VERNE, CA
• · Rating 4.54 out of 5   13

Princeton University

• Princeton, NJ ·
• · Rating 4.33 out of 5   3 reviews

PRINCETON, NJ ,

3 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The best part of the Princeton University mechanical engineering graduate degree is the excellent faculty that teach the courses. They are incredibly knowledgeable and also very willing to help... .

Pratt School of Engineering

• Durham, NC ·
• Duke University ·
• · Rating 5 out of 5   2 reviews

Duke University ,

DURHAM, NC ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says New program, Financial Technology, is a comprehensive curriculum bringing together financial principles and computing. Interesting electives and flexibility to create your own tract, incorporating... .

Read 2 reviews.

School of Engineering and Applied Science - University of Pennsylvania

• Philadelphia, PA ·
• University of Pennsylvania ·

University of Pennsylvania ,

PHILADELPHIA, PA ,

• Find college scholarships

George R. Brown School of Engineering

• Houston, TX ·
• Rice University ·

Blue checkmark.

Rice University ,

HOUSTON, TX ,

McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

• Evanston, IL ·
• Northwestern University ·

Northwestern University ,

EVANSTON, IL ,

Featured Review: Master's Student says Northwestern's Master of Science in Energy and Sustainability is a first of its kind professionally focused master's program in the nation. Interdisciplinary by design, MSES covers the technical,... .

Vanderbilt School of Engineering

• Nashville, TN ·
• Vanderbilt University ·

Vanderbilt University ,

NASHVILLE, TN ,

McKelvey School of Engineering

• St. Louis, MO ·
• Washington University in St. Louis ·

Washington University in St. Louis ,

ST. LOUIS, MO ,

Division of Engineering and Applied Science - California Institute of Technology

• Pasadena, CA ·
• California Institute of Technology ·

California Institute of Technology ,

PASADENA, CA ,

College of Engineering - University of Notre Dame

• Notre Dame, IN ·
• University of Notre Dame ·

University of Notre Dame ,

NOTRE DAME, IN ,

• Sponsored Find Student Loan Options
• Online Materials Engineering Programs
• Online Masters in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering Programs

Viterbi School of Engineering

• Los Angeles, CA ·
• University of Southern California ·

University of Southern California ,

LOS ANGELES, CA ,

Featured Review: Master's Student says Best experience is that I have the ability to engage with other students and my professors in real time. My worst experience would have to be; moments of not being able to hear what is being talked about during a lecture due to classroom audio issues. .

Cornell Engineering

• Ithaca, NY ·
• Cornell University ·

Cornell University ,

ITHACA, NY ,

University of Michigan College of Engineering

• Ann Arbor, MI ·
• University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ·

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ,

ANN ARBOR, MI ,

Tufts University School of Medicine

• Boston, MA ·
• Tufts University ·
• · Rating 4.84 out of 5   25 reviews

Tufts University ,

BOSTON, MA ,

25 Niche users give it an average review of 4.8 stars.

Featured Review: Doctoral Student says I am just starting but have looked through some modules. It seems like it is going to be a great experience and I have visited the campuses a couple of times. .

Read 25 reviews.

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

• University of California - Los Angeles ·

University of California - Los Angeles ,

Whiting School of Engineering

• Baltimore, MD ·
• Johns Hopkins University ·
• · Rating 4.83 out of 5   12 reviews

Johns Hopkins University ,

BALTIMORE, MD ,

12 Niche users give it an average review of 4.8 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says Just starting now but the onboarding process is great! The student orientation was very helpful and the school has an amazing network. .

Read 12 reviews.

College of Engineering - Carnegie Mellon University

• Pittsburgh, PA ·
• Carnegie Mellon University ·
• · Rating 4.8 out of 5   5 reviews

Carnegie Mellon University ,

PITTSBURGH, PA ,

5 Niche users give it an average review of 4.8 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says If you are interested in research, CMU Engineering is an excellent option with newly built state of the art laboratories. There isn't much individual attention though, so be prepared to find... .

Read 5 reviews.

Georgia Tech College of Engineering

• Atlanta, GA ·
• Georgia Institute of Technology ·
• · Rating 5 out of 5   1 review

Georgia Institute of Technology ,

ATLANTA, GA ,

1 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The best part is sitting through top professors of the world’s lecture! The worst part is the time of classes! They are offered in the middle of the day! .

Read 1 reviews.

UC Berkeley College of Engineering

• Berkeley, CA ·
• University of California - Berkeley ·

University of California - Berkeley ,

BERKELEY, CA ,

Featured Review: Master's Student says It seems like a really cool program. I hope to recive some financial aid so that I can attend. The staff has been kind and helpful. .

Northeastern University College of Engineering

• Northeastern University ·

Northeastern University ,

Featured Review: Master's Student says BEST PARTS OF THIS PROGRAM OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN DATA ANALYTICS ENGINEERING IN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING FROM NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY IS THAT, THIS PROGRAM IS ONLINE, AND FLEXIBLE AND TIME RESTRICTION... .

Tandon School of Engineering

• Brooklyn, NY ·
• New York University ·
• · Rating 4.73 out of 5   15 reviews

New York University ,

BROOKLYN, NY ,

15 Niche users give it an average review of 4.7 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says As a bioinformatics master's student at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, I've had the opportunity to explore the fascinating intersection of biology and computer science. The program has... The faculty at Tandon are experienced and supportive, and I've had the chance to collaborate with fellow students on exciting research projects. The interdisciplinary nature of bioinformatics has... Overall, my experience at NYU Tandon has been enriching, and I look forward to applying the knowledge and skills acquired during my master's program to contribute meaningfully to the field of... .

Read 15 reviews.

Cockrell School of Engineering

• Austin, TX ·
• University of Texas - Austin ·
• · Rating 4.5 out of 5   2 reviews

University of Texas - Austin ,

AUSTIN, TX ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The engineering school is a vibrant and encourages the learning aspect in students. It has all the facilities a student might need conveniently located in the buildings from libraries, workshops,... .

P.C. Rossin College of Engineering & Applied Science

• Bethlehem, PA ·
• Lehigh University ·

Lehigh University ,

BETHLEHEM, PA ,

University of Wyoming

• LARAMIE, WY
• · Rating 4.42 out of 5   24

College of Ethnic Studies - San Francisco State University

• San Francisco State University ·
• SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Florida International University

• · Rating 4.65 out of 5   299

Showing results 1 through 25 of 152

Departments

• Applied Physics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Center for Urban Science and Progress
• Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
• Civil and Urban Engineering
• Computer Science and Engineering
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Finance and Risk Engineering
• Mathematics
• Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Technology, Culture and Society
• Technology Management and Innovation

Degrees & Programs

• Bachelor of Science
• Master of Science
• Doctor of Philosophy
• Digital Learning
• Certificate Programs
• NYU Tandon Bridge
• Undergraduate
• Records & Registration
• Digital Learning Services
• Teaching Innovation
• Explore NYU Tandon
• Year in Review
• Strategic Plan
• Diversity & Inclusion

News & Events

• Social Media

Looking for News or Events ?

Mechanical Engineering, Ph.D.

• Request Information

Mechanical engineers create the physical systems and devices that define modern society — everything from automobiles to air conditioning, robotic parts to power plants, people movers to artificial limbs, and rocket engines to satellites. At the School of Engineering, we groom our students to become the inventors and innovators of tomorrow. Our PhD in Mechanical Engineering program offers a balanced curriculum that emphasizes the principles behind these designs and approaches. To apply these principles in the field, we make computational and research experience an integral component of your studies.

We also offer you the freedom to choose from 5 distinct areas of specialization:

• aerospace engineering
• controls and dynamic systems
• fluid dynamics and thermal systems
• materials engineering
• mechanics and structural systems

The high faculty-to-student ratio of our program ensures you develop close ties to your instructors and fellow students. This fosters lifelong relationships and a rigorous intellectual community of scholars.

Many of our graduates enter such fields as computer engineering, nanotechnology, software development, and financial engineering. They also occupy positions in bioengineering, manufacturing, astronautics, systems engineering, and corporate management and law.

Admission Requirements

Admission to this program requires an MS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or other closely related engineering field or applied sciences. Generally, you must also be able to present a GPA of 3.5 or better in your MS work. In cases where it is unclear that the required MS specialization has been satisfied, the degree requirements for the Mechanical Engineering, MS at the School of Engineering will define the necessary reparation. This same criterion applies for degrees received in other engineering disciplines.

Those with a BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering and a GPA of 3.5 or better may apply directly to the program.

Find out more about  admission requirements .

Abu Dhabi Global Fellow Program

Urban Science Doctoral Track

The general credit requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering degree at the School of Engineering are:

• Transfer from MS degree (30 credits)
• Approved coursework beyond the MS degree (18 credits minimum)
• Ph.D. dissertation (18 credits minimum)
• Approved electives (up to 6 credits)
• Minimum Total Required: 75 Credits

The credits above include MS degree credits but go beyond those for the BS degree.

Your studies must also be completed 5 years after the MS degree or the date of admission, whichever is later, unless a formal leave of absence is approved before the period for which the studies are interrupted.

In addition, you must take a written and oral departmental qualifying examination within the first 2 times it is offered after the date you join the doctoral program. Upon passing, you must then form a Ph.D. Guidance Committee and begin your dissertation. To do so, you will need to register for at least 3 credits of ME 9999 each fall and spring semester. Actual registration should reflect the pace of the work and your activity.

An exception to the minimum registration requirement may be made in the last semester of registration if that semester is devoted primarily to complete the work and dissertation. A dissertation grade of U for 2 consecutive terms affects whether or not you will be allowed to continue doctoral work. You must present progress on your dissertation to your guidance committee at least once a year. You can find additional details on degree requirements in the departmental pamphlet available at the department's main office.

Quick Links

• Graduate Admissions
• Robotics at NYU Tandon

Program Director

Iskender Sahin

Matthieu Nadini

• Menu  Close 
• Search 

PhD Program

Our PhD Program offers students opportunities to work in labs specializing in a broad range of mechanical engineering research.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering prepares students for careers in research and academia. Our faculty are investigating a diverse range of research areas like fluid mechanics, renewable energy technologies, materials processing and manufacturing, prosthetics, diagnostic tools, nanotechnology, and much more. As a PhD candidate, you will share in the excitement of discovery as you collaborate with our faculty on cutting edge research. You will also acquire strong, independent research skills and begin to develop your own skills and reputation as a member of the research community.

Because the advisor/graduate relationship is the cornerstone of a successful PhD experience, all new PhD candidates are carefully matched with faculty advisors, based on mutual research interests.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) normally requires four to five years of full-time study beyond the baccalaureate degree. There is no formal course requirement for a doctoral degree. The student develops a technical program involving both research and coursework with the help of his or her faculty advisor.

PhD candidates must pass the departmental exam, the Graduate Board Oral exam, submit a doctoral dissertation, and pass a final dissertation defense.

Where Do Our PhD Graduates Go?

Visit our PhD Alumni page to see where our PhD graduates have made their mark around the world. You, too, can join this elite group with an admission to our highly-ranked PhD program.

Learn More About the PhD Program

• Graduate Program Flyer
• Graduate Advising
• Information Session
• Course Schedules

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

General info.

• Faculty working with students: 31
• Students: 91 Ph.D., 50 M.S.
• Students receiving Financial Aid: 100% of Ph.D. Students, 10% of M.S. students
• Part time study available: No
• Application terms: Spring, Fall
• Application deadlines: Spring: October 2; Fall: December 14
• Learn about our PhD program at mems.duke.edu/phd .
• Email the PhD program

Program Description

Graduate students in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science (MEMS) work in close collaboration with world-renowned faculty on state-of-the-art, interdisciplinary research programs. The low faculty-to-student ratio provides a close-knit scholarly community while an active Graduate Student Committee provides peer mentorship and support. The graduate curricula are uncommonly flexible whereby the students can define the academic path that best suits their professional goals. 

Learn more about our faculty, research, and student projects at the departmental website: http://mems.duke.edu/

Concentrations/Research Specialties

PhD in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

• Aerospace Engineering
• Dynamics, Controls & Robotics
• Materials Science & Biomaterials
• Mechanics, Design & Computing
• Thermal Fluids & Energy
• Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science: PhD Admissions and Enrollment Statistics
• Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science: PhD Completion Rate Statistics
• Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science: PhD Time to Degree Statistics
• Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science: PhD Career Outcomes Statistics

Application Information

Application Terms Available:  Spring, Fall

Application Deadlines:  Spring: October 2; Fall: December 14

Graduate School Application Requirements See the Application Instructions page for important details about each Graduate School requirement.

• Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts required with application submission; official transcripts required upon admission
• Letters of Recommendation: 3 Required
• Statement of Purpose: Required (See department guidance below)
• Résumé: Required
• GRE Scores: GRE General (Optional)
• English Language Exam: TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test required* for applicants whose first language is not English *test waiver may apply for some applicants
• GPA: Undergraduate GPA calculated on 4.0 scale required

Statement of Purpose

Write a statement (single-spaced, 12-point font) addressing the questions below.

1.    Please describe your past research experience at your college/university, REU, or relevant industry experience (500 words max). What questions were you working to address? What experimental, computational, or theoretical skills did you learn? 

2.    For any grades lower than a B, please explain the circumstances of this grade and any steps you took to make sure you learned the material (50 words max).

3.    Why are you interested in pursuing a PhD? And why at Duke? Which faculty members and research areas are you interested in and why? (200 words max)

4.    Earning a PhD is a challenging and intense experience. Please share a past experience where you have had to overcome challenges and how you addressed the challenges (200 words max).

5.    (Optional) Duke MEMS is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. How will you contribute to this community (100 words max)? Possible examples include past leadership roles in student groups, volunteer work, demonstrated ability to work with teams, teaching and tutoring experience, etc.

6.    (Optional) Please describe your current career goals (100 words max). Duke MEMS prides itself in the success of our PhD students in industry and academia. Many students do internships in industry or national labs during their PhD. In addition, the new Thomas Lord Engineering in Service to Society Fellowship provides funding for PhD internships in government, policy, and non-profits.   

Writing Sample None required

Additional Components Masters: Providing a recorded video response is required. The video recording platform is available within the online application.

PhD: Providing a recorded video response is optional. For international students, completion of a video can potentially negate the need for a live language interview later on in the application process. If you choose to include a video, the video recording platform is available within the online application.

We strongly encourage you to review additional department-specific application guidance from the program to which you are applying:  Departmental Application Guidance (PhD)

List of Graduate School Programs and Degrees

Graduate Programs

Main navigation.

At the graduate level, the Mechanical Engineering program aligns academic course work with research to prepare scholars in specialized areas within the field.

Areas of specialization range from automatic controls, energy systems, fluid mechanics, heat transfer and solid mechanics to biomechanical engineering, MEMS and design. Through course work and guided research, the program prepares students to make original contributions in Mechanical Engineering and related fields.

Stanford is consistently ranked among the world’s top institutions for post-graduate Mechanical Engineering studies. The National Research Council’s last study of American doctoral programs ranked Stanford No. 1 in Mechanical Engineering, while US News and World Report’s graduate school rankings have named Stanford’s ME program at No. 2. Incoming graduate students work one-on-one with faculty who are at the forefront of technological innovation.

A master’s degree program leading to the MS is offered in Mechanical Engineering, and a master’s degree program leading to the MS is offered in Engineering with a sub-field of study in Biomechanical Engineering and an individually designed major. The department also offers two post-master's degrees: Engineer and Doctor of Philosophy.

We invite excellent students from all backgrounds, including those from historically underrepresented groups in engineering, to consider Stanford University for their graduate studies. In making admissions decisions, the Mechanical Engineering Department will comply with the requirements of the law as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States, evaluating each applicant based on their "experiences as an individual—not on the basis of race.” We continue to value a diverse student body that benefits the educational experience of our students and our mission of generating knowledge at Stanford University.  

Note:  The Stanford community can find the ME Graduate Handbook on the ME Student Intranet - Graduate Student Forms and Resources (login with active stanford.edu email address is required).

100 Best Mechanical Engineering schools in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Mechanical Engineering. A graph of 44.9M citations received by 1.6M academic papers made by 964 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

For Mechanical Engineering

2. Stanford University

3. University of California - Berkeley

4. Harvard University

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

6. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

7. Georgia Institute of Technology

8. University of Washington - Seattle

9. Cornell University

10. University of Wisconsin - Madison

11. Pennsylvania State University

12. University of Maryland - College Park

13. Ohio State University

14. University of Texas at Austin

15. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

16. Carnegie Mellon University

17. University of California - Los Angeles

18. University of California-San Diego

19. Purdue University

20. Johns Hopkins University

21. Texas A&M University - College Station

22. Columbia University

23. Princeton University

24. University of Pennsylvania

25. University of Southern California

26. University of Florida

27. Yale University

28. Northwestern University

29. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

30. California Institute of Technology

31. Iowa State University

32. University of California - Davis

33. New York University

34. University of Chicago

35. University of California - Santa Barbara

36. Michigan State University

37. University of California - San Francisco

38. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

39. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

40. University of Pittsburgh

41. University of Arizona

42. University of Utah

43. Duke University

44. Arizona State University - Tempe

45. University of Colorado Boulder

46. University of California - Irvine

47. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

48. Boston University

49. University of Iowa

50. University of Virginia

51. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

52. Washington University in St Louis

53. University of Illinois at Chicago

54. University of Cincinnati

55. University of Rochester

56. University at Buffalo

57. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

58. University of Kentucky

59. Rice University

60. Case Western Reserve University

61. Stony Brook University

62. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

63. Tulane University of Louisiana

64. Brown University

65. Providence College

66. Vanderbilt University

67. University of Delaware

68. Emory University

69. University of Connecticut

70. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

71. Clemson University

72. University of Houston

73. Drexel University

74. Florida State University

75. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

76. University of Miami

77. University of Missouri - Columbia

78. University of Notre Dame

79. Wayne State University

80. University of South Florida

81. University of Central Florida

82. Oregon State University

83. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

84. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

85. University of South Carolina - Columbia

86. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

87. University of California - Riverside

88. Washington State University

89. Missouri University of Science and Technology

90. University of Oklahoma - Norman

91. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

92. University of Alabama at Birmingham

93. Syracuse University

94. University of Georgia

95. Brigham Young University - Provo

96. Northeastern University

97. Auburn University

98. Texas Tech University

99. University of New Mexico

100. University of Maryland, Baltimore

The best cities to study Mechanical Engineering in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge , Stanford , Berkeley , and Ann Arbor .

Engineering subfields in the United States

Mechanical Engineering, PhD

Whiting school of engineering, the ph.d. program.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) normally requires four to five years of full-time study beyond the baccalaureate degree. There is no formal course requirement for a doctoral degree.  The student develops a technical program involving both research and course work with the help of their faculty advisor.

PhD candidates must pass the Departmental Qualifying Exam (usually taken at the end of the second semester of graduate study), successfully submit a doctoral dissertation proposal (usually during the third-year of full-time study), complete a doctoral dissertation, and pass the final Graduate Board Oral exam and the dissertation defense.

Admissions 

To be admitted to graduate study in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, applicants must submit credentials sufficient to convince the faculty that they will thrive in a program of advanced course work and research. Graduate Record Examination scores must be submitted.

Each graduate student is assigned to a faculty advisor to map a program for the first year and enter the intellectual life of the department. The student will remain in regular communication with the advisor. The advisor may use a variety of methods to assess the student’s progress. It is not necessary that a student have the same advisor in successive years. After serious research for a dissertation has begun, the research supervisor will automatically function as advisor.

All Ph.D. students are required in their first three years, and master’s students are encouraged during their time here, to register for EN.530.803 Mechanical Engineering Graduate Seminar and attend its weekly Mechanical Engineering Graduate Seminars.

Where Do our PhD Graduates Go?  Visit  our PhD Alumni page  to see where our PhD graduates have made their mark around the world. You, too, can join this elite group with an admission to our PhD program!

Program Requirements

Although there are no formal course requirements, students are presumed to be prepared by studies equal to six 600-level courses in their field of specialization and six courses in related fields. All candidates for the doctorate must complete two semesters as a teaching assistant as part of their training. All students are required to follow a course of study approved by their individual advisor.

 In addition to general university requirements, the student must complete the following requirements:

• Achieve an unconditional pass in the oral Departmental Qualifying Exam based on core courses. This exam is usually taken after the second semester.
• Submit a Doctoral Dissertation Proposal that will serve as a base for research and dissertation by the end of the third year.
• Complete research and write the Doctoral Dissertation.
• Achieve an unconditional pass in the Graduate Board Oral examination satisfying the Graduate Board requirements. This is a comprehensive examination in which students must demonstrate proficiency at the graduate level in their field of specialization.
• The final and principal requirement for the doctorate is to successfully defend the Doctoral Dissertation in a final oral presentation and examination, also known as the "dissertation defense."

Additional details on Ph.D. requirements and departmental academic policy for the Ph.D. degree can be found on the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Advising page .

• Duke University »
• Pratt School of Engineering »
• BSE Degree Planning
• ME/BME Double Major
• Certificates
• 4+1: BSE+Master's
• Why Duke MEMS?
• Where Our Students Go
• Enrollment and Graduation Rates
• Awards & Honors
• Graduation with Distinction
• Independent Study
• Earn Your Master's at Duke
• Master of Science
• Master of Engineering
• Concentrations
• Career Outcomes
• Life at Duke
• MEMS Graduate Student Committee
• Earn Your PhD at Duke
• PhD Admissions
• Certificates, Fellowships & Training Programs
• Meet Our PhD Students
• Computing / AI
• Soft / Nano
• Research Facilities
• All Faculty
• Awards & Recognition
• Welcome to Duke MEMS
• Meet the Alstadt Chair
• Meet the Staff
• Facts & Stats
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Community
• Media Coverage
• Email Newsletter
• Research News
• Pearsall Distinguished Lecture Series
• Our History
• Driving Directions

PhD—Doctoral Study

Rigorous advanced training in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science with personalized mentorship from faculty research leaders

The Duke Difference

• World-class research   with global impact in energy, automation, and health care
• Uniquely interdisciplinary environment —MEMS faculty and students work closely with collaborators within Duke's Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, School of Medicine, and Nicholas School of the Environment, as well as with national and international collaborators at universities, in industry, and at national labs
• Financial support —Duke MEMS is committed to providing tuition, stipend, and health insurance for all PhD students. Also, MEMS provides travel and registration funds to support your participation in national and international conferences
• Internships —MEMS PhD students are encouraged to work with their advisors to explore industry internships. Course credit is available
• Engineering in Service to Society Fellowships —Through the generous support of the Lord Foundation, Duke MEMS PhD students can apply for funds to spend a semester gaining experience in the policy or nonprofit sector (international, national, or local). A number of national policy positions are available near campus
• Specialization   with integrated coursework and research
• A broad mentoring network  that includes your PhD advisor and an interdisciplinary mentoring team.
• Great location in a city known for tech, entrepreneurship and quality of life—Durham, N.C., is a vibrant city with both nationally-known restaurants and the large Eno River State Park for nearby hiking. Along with Chapel Hill (UNC) and Raleigh (NC State), it forms the Research Triangle region, which together are ranked #6 in Best Place to Live in the U.S. by U.S.News .  
• Excellent career outcomes —About 45% of our PhD students go on to academic careers, 55% go on to leadership in the public and private sectors.

Contact Duke

How to Apply

•   #10 national university
• #25 Mechanical engineering graduate program
•   $12 million in new faculty research awards
•   39 Regular rank faculty

Sources: U.S. News, Academic Analytics, Duke University

World-Class Research

Those considering a PhD in mechanical engineering and materials science should be passionate about research. We provide opportunities for students to publish with their faculty advisor, to present research at professional conferences, and to explore their field in a highly collaborative, cross-disciplinary working environment.

Duke MEMS Research Groups, Centers and Initiatives

Our faculty lead research groups, centers and initiatives with strong collaborations in academia and industry.

Research at Duke MEMS addresses fundamental and applied problems, with particular strength in aerospace engineering, dynamics, controls & robotics, materials science & biomaterials, mechanics, design & computing, thermal fluids & energy.

Browse Duke MEMS faculty profiles »

Duke Center for Autonomous Materials Design

The base for teams across 15-plus institutions with the mission of creating stronger materials with tunable properties. The center shares the largest database for inorganic materials at aflow.org .

Duke Robotics

A cross-disciplinary association of labs and faculty spanning Computer Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering and Duke MEMS.

More about Duke Robotics »

Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics (FIP)

For nearly 25 years, FIP has provided a world-class educational and research environment that trains engineers to make original contributions across the range of light-based technologies.

More about the Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics »

GUIde Consortium for Aeroelasticity

A turbomachinery aeroelasticity research consortium of government, university and industry partners (GUI). 

More about the GUIde Consortium for Aeroelasticity »

Accelerates the design, discovery and dissemination (D 3 ) of new crystalline organic-inorganic hybrid semiconductors at three neighboring universities: Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State University. 

More about HybridD 3 »

Duke Soft Matter Center

An interdisciplinary effort to create an intellectual climate at Duke based on a common language of soft matter. Facilitates collaboration among faculty in engineering, the natural sciences and medicine. 

More about the Duke Soft Matter Center »

Duke Materials Initiative

A Duke-wide community of eight academic departments that facilitate collaboration, research, and education in materials science. 

More about the Duke Materials Initiative »

Duke Energy Initiative

A Duke-wide research collaboration focused on advancing accessible, affordable, reliable, and clean energy. 

More about the Duke Energy Initiative »

PhD Student Research-Study Tracks

As an integrated department in both Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke MEMS offers multiple, rigorous yet flexible pathways to a PhD with focus in Mechanical Engineering or Materials Science, or a blended and custom combination.

Below, browse course options for the focused curricular tracks:  

Mechanical Engineering Tracks

Six courses from the following three areas, with at least one in each

Structures and Dynamics

• ME 541: Intermediate Dynamics
• ME 544: Advanced Mechanical Vibrations
• ME 527: Buckling

Aerodynamics, Acoustics, and Fluid Mechanics

• ME 532: Convective Heat Transfer
• ME 536: Compressible Flow
• ME 571: Aerodynamics
• ME 572: Engineering Acoustics
• ME 672: Unsteady Aerodynamics
• ME 775: Aeroelasticity

Mathematical and Computational Methods

NOTE: no more than two can be applied

• CS 520: Numerical Analysis
• ME 524: Introduction to the Finite Element Method
• MATH 551: Applied Partial Differential Equations
• MATH 575: Mathematical Fluid Dynamics
• MATH 577: Mathematical Modeling
• ME 639: Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer 

Math and Computational Methods

• ME 525: Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis

Mechanics and Fluids

• BME 528: Biofluid Mechanics
• CE 541: Structural Dynamics
• ME 555: Intro to Rheology

Biology and Medicine

• ME 513: Nanobiomechanics
• BME 527: Cell Mechanics and Mechanotransduction
• ME 535: Biomedical Microsystems
• ME 555: Fundamentals of Shock-Wave Lithotripsy
• ME 555: Systems Engineering
• ME 555: Experimental Microfluidics
• ME 711: Nanotechnology Materials Laboratory

Six courses in the following areas, with at least one course in each

Applied Math

• MATH 541: Applied Stochastic Processes
• MATH 561: Numerical Linear Algebra

Numerical Methods

• ME 511: Computational Materials Science
• ME 524: Finite Element Method
• ME 525: Nonlinear Finite Elements
• ME 555: Numerical Optimization

Engineering Sciences and Mechanics

• CEE 520: Continuum Mechanics
• ME 531: Thermodynamics
• ME 631: Intermediate Fluid Dynamics

Computer Science/Programming

• ECE 551D: Programming in C++
• ME 555: Introduction to Programming
• CS 570: Artificial Intelligence
• CS 571D: Probabilistic Machine Learning

Math and Statistics

• ECE 586: Vector Space Methods
• BA 911: Convex Optimization

Dynamics and Controls

• ME 555: Model Predictive Control
• ME 627: Linear System Theory
• ME 742: Nonlinear Mechanical Vibrations

Computational Methods

• CS 527: Computer Vision
• ME 555: Introduction to Scientific Computing
• ME 531 Engineering Thermodynamics
• ME 532 Convective Heat Transfer
• ME 555 Carbon Capture and Utilization   
• ME 536 Compressible Fluid Flow
• ME 555 Intro to Rheology
• ME 572 Engineering Acoustics
• ME 631 Intermediate Fluid Dynamics

Applied Math and Numerical Methods

• ME 639 Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer

Materials Science Tracks

One solid-state course from the following

• CHEM 548: Solid-State/Materials Chemistry
• ECE 524: Introduction to Solid-State Physics
• PHYS 516: Quantum Materials
• ME 555: Modern Materials

One statistical thermodynamics course from the following

• CHEM 544 Statistical Mechanics
• PHYS 563 Introduction to Statistical Mechanics
• PHYS 763 Statistical Mechanics

One quantum mechanics course

• ECE 521: Quantum Mechanics, or
• Other graduate-level quantum mechanics course

Two courses from the following

• ME 555: Materials Synthesis and Processing
• ME 518: Diffraction and Spectroscopy
• ME 555: Molecular Modeling of Soft Materials
• ME 555: Carbon Capture and Utilization 
• ME 711: Nanotechnology Materials Lab

One course from the following

• ME 516: Thin-Film Photovoltaics
• ME 515: Introduction to Electronic Materials
• ME 514: Theoretical and Applied Polymer Science
• ECE 511: Foundations of Nanoscale Science and Technology

One "hard matter" course from the following

• PHYS 516 Quantum Materials
• ME 555: Fundamentals of Soft Matter

Two polymer courses from the following

• ME 555: Introduction to Polymer Physics
• CHEM 590: Polymer Synthesis
• ME 555: Intermediate Polymer Physics
• ECE 721/ME 711: Nanotechnology Materials Lab/Advanced Lab Materials
• PHYS 760: Mathematical Methods in Physics
• MATH 577(229): Mathematical Modeling

Materials Courses

• CEE 521: Elasticity
• ECE 511: Foundations of Nanoscale Science & Technology
• ME 510: Diffraction and Spectroscopy
• ME 515: Electronic Materials
• ME 555 (ME 512): Modern Materials
• ME 555 (562): Materials Synthesis and Processing
• ME 555 (ME 519): Molecular Modeling of Soft Materials
• ME 555 (ME 563:) Fundamentals of Soft Matter
• ME 555 (ME 564): Introduction to Polymer Physics

Computational Courses

• CS 671D: Theory and Algorithms for Machine Learning
• CEE 690: Data Science and ML for CEE
• ECE 580: Introduction to Machine Learning
• ECE 590: Deep Learning
• ECE 682D: Probabilistic Machine Learning
• CEE 690: Uncertainty Quantification in Computational Science and Engineering
• ME (ME 519): Molecular Modeling of Soft Materials

AI and Materials Integrated Courses

• ME 555: Data and Materials Science Applications
• ME 555: Sci Computing, Simulation and ML

"What I really like about Duke is that it has all the advantages of a big school but within Duke MEMS it feels like a small school. There's really a great sense of community." Amy King, PhD '20 |  Northrop Grumman

A Personal Mentoring Team

A broad mentoring network is a hallmark of the Duke MEMS PhD experience. We believe in creating a highly interdisciplinary research community.

PhD students work closely with a research advisor. In addition, we help you form a personal Mentoring Team that includes a faculty member outside of your research area and senior PhD students.

Authentic Opportunities to Learn Mentorship Through Mentoring

In preparation for your role as a research mentor, Duke Engineering actively encourages and supports efforts by its PhD students to mentor undergraduates in research work.

Our PhD students can register to serve as a mentor and post a research project to a university-wide directory of research opportunities for undergraduates: Muser .

As mentors, our PhD students build professional mentoring relationships with undergraduates, while increasing undergraduate involvement in research—one of the hallmarks of a Duke Engineering education.

A Welcoming, Inclusive Community

By choosing Duke, you join an engaged, diverse and welcoming community that values and supports you.

You'll notice the importance we place on faculty-doctoral student interaction. The MEMS Graduate Student Committee plans seminars and social events—creating a strong community among Duke MEMS doctoral students.

Through programs like  PhD Plus , students learn essential skills for their professional careers. Professional interests most often are realized through research and technology development careers.

"The US Air Force Research Laboratory was interested in me because of opportunities I had at Duke that showed I can communicate technical topics to an audience with diverse backgrounds." Katy Hayes, PhD | Materials Research Intern

Regional Advantages

Our engineering quad is next to the Duke University Hospital, one of the world's leading academic medical research centers. In Durham, you'll enjoy outstanding restaurants, a thriving arts scene, and the Eno River State Park.

The Duke campus is just miles from  Research Triangle Park (RTP) , home to more than 200 major tech companies and a global hub for research.

To the west, are the Blue Ridge mountain towns of Asheville and Boone. To the east, the famous Outer Banks on the Atlantic coast. The cost of living in Durham is affordable—especially when compared to Boston, New York, Atlanta, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Your Duke degree can take you anywhere in the United States and beyond. Some students choose to remain in our Research Triangle region, which is consistently ranked among the best places to live in the United States.

More about Durham, Duke's hometown »

More details

Degree Duke MEMS provides a customized, flexible educational experience tailored to meet your needs in your chosen research area. In our program, you will progress from introductory classes to specialized coursework. As you learn, your focus will gradually shift from coursework to learning important research and leadership skills.

• 6-8 core courses, depending on your chosen curriculum 
• Coursework-based Preliminary Exam in your 2nd year
• Research-based Research Proposal Defense in your 3rd year
• Complete  Responsible Conduct of Research  (RCR) training
• Complete two semesters of teaching assistantship (TA)
• Complete and defend a dissertation
• During their training, many students also complete  certificates

Students can also pursue focused opportunities in areas of specialization and exploration, including:

• AI for Understanding and Designing Materials
• Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering
• Medical Robotics
• Nanoscience
• Public Policy
• Surgical Technologies

More about Certificates, Fellowships & Training Programs »

Students entering the PhD program with a master's degree from another institution should consult the Duke MEMS director of graduate studies and their advisor for possible substitution of other courses and/or waivers of some of these course requirements.

PhD students complete two semesters of Teaching Assistantship (TA). We provide training to help you develop your teaching skills.

It is expected that you will complete this requirement during your second through fourth years in the PhD program. TA assignments will be based on your background and interests, and department needs. The goal of your TA assignment is to provide you with a meaningful teaching experience based on your career goals.

Teaching Assistantships require 10 hours per week on average and may involve organizing and leading discussion sections, grading homework and quizzes, assisting in the development of course materials and supervising laboratory sessions.

• Undergraduate Programs
• Master of Engineering Programs
• Distance Learning - Master of Engineering in Aerospace Engineering
• Distance Learning - Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
• Graduate Programs
• Academic Leadership
• Staff Directory
• Advisory Council
• MAE Inclusivity Statement
• Collaborative Facilities Across Campus
• Reuleaux Collection
• Sibley School Labs
• Sibley 150 - Celebrating 150 Years of Mechanical Engineering at Cornell
• MAE Newsletter
• Giving Opportunities
• Recruit Students
• Academic Support
• Experience and Employment for Students
• Graduate Services and Activities
• Jobs at MAE
• Mental Health Resources
• Undergraduate Services and Activities

Ph.D. Degree

Why the sibley school of mechanical and aerospace engineering, flexibility.

Graduate fields cross traditional college and department boundaries and afford a graduate student maximum flexibility in designing a program represented by faculty from virtually any discipline on campus.

One of the Top 10 Mechanical Engineering Departments 

The Sibley School is consistently ranked one of the top ten best graduate mechanical engineering programs. Our exceptional faculty are leaders in their field and have a diverse range of research interests .

1st Semester Fellowship

Students do not choose a Ph.D. advisor before applying. Matriculated students are afforded the opportunity to interact with a number of faculty in seeking a good student-advisor match within the first semester. 

Grad Student Community

Prospective graduate students are drawn to the Sibley School by the close community of multi-cultural and diverse graduate students. Students feel as though they are part of an inclusive community that supports one another throughout the Ph.D. process. 

5 Years of Funding

We offer five years of funding to all admitted Ph.D. students (contingent upon maintaining good academic standing).

Cornell is located in the beautiful New York Finger Lakes region. Ithaca has been rated one of the top 25 best small cities in America due to the abundance of outdoor activities, natural beauty and thriving restaurant and brewery scene. Ithaca is also within 6 hours of New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, DC.

Contact Information

Assistant Director for Graduate Affairs Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 343 Upson Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 (607) 255-5250

Testimonial by

I really like the culture and atmosphere in MAE. People help and support each other here. For me, MAE is more like a family that welcomes everyone from all over the world.

Cornell MAE has state-of-the-art research facilities, especially in robotics, and a multicultural and international group of students and researchers. The graduate students support each other very well. The faculty members are leaders in their respective fields and have multidisciplinary collaborations. I am glad that I chose Cornell MAE for pursuing my graduate studies.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science offers multi-disciplinary programs leading to a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering degree in the areas of automotive engineering, biomedical engineering, computational modeling and simulation, materials science, manufacturing, and precision engineering.  In addition, the Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering program offers an Advanced Standing Option for students who have already earned a Master’s degree in selected disciplines.  

The objectives of the Ph.D. program are:

• To provide students with the opportunity to develop a breadth of knowledge in mechanical engineering so that they can adapt to the changing requirements of the technological workplace.
• To develop engineering researchers who can contribute to the development of new knowledge and the dissemination of best practices in academic, industrial, and government environments.
• To prepare graduates for personal and professional success, both as individuals and in team environments.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, the following are required for study toward the Ph.D. program in Mechanical Engineering:

• A master’s degree in engineering or a closely allied field with a GPA of at least 3.5. Exceptional students with only a baccalaureate degree may also be considered for admission to the Ph.D. program.
• The applicant must receive a satisfactory Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test score.
• Three letters of reference, at least two of which must be from faculty members. All three must be from professionals working in the applicant’s field of interest.

Acceptability for admission is based upon the applicant’s record and background as determined by the department.

The GRE requirement will be waived for the following applicants:

• Current UNC Charlotte undergraduate students who have earned a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA and completed at least 75 earned credit hours
• Applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2 from an ABET-accredited program in a U.S. institution
• Applicants who have passed the FE exam and/or earned the PE license
• Applicants who have completed a master’s degree in engineering or related fields, and earned a minimum graduate GPA of 3.5 from an ABET-accredited program in a U.S. institution

Application Deadline

Application deadlines are in accordance with UNC Charlotte Graduate School deadlines. However, to ensure full consideration for financial support, applications must be received by September 15 for Spring admission and February 15 for Fall admission.

Degree Requirements

• Appointment of a Ph.D. advisor and formation of an advisory committee.
• Development of a Ph.D. Plan of Study detailing all course and examination requirements.
• Successful completion of the written qualifying examination.
• Formation of a Dissertation Committee, presentation of a proposal for Ph.D. research, and admission to candidacy.
• Successful defense of the Ph.D. Dissertation.

Within the first semester of being admitted into a Ph.D. program, the student should choose a Ph.D. advisor and form an advisory committee, consisting of the Ph.D. advisor, Associate Chair for Graduate Programs, and academic advisor.  In conjunction with the advisory committee, the student will develop a Plan of Study to meet the Ph.D. program requirements of coursework and examinations and prepare to undertake original research leading to a dissertation of a quality that would be acceptable for publication of articles in peer-refereed professional journals.

Plan of Study

The Plan of Study must show at least 72 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree, including at least 45 credit hours of graduate coursework (6000-level or above), and 21 credit hours of dissertation research.  All doctoral students must register for 8000-level courses when they are available. 5000-, 6000-, or 7000-level courses that do not have 8000-level counterparts may also be counted towards the doctoral degree if approved by the advisory committee.  For students who do not possess appropriate bachelor’s and/or master’s degrees in engineering, additional coursework is expected. The specific course requirements are set by the student’s advisory committee but must include:  at least 6 credit hours of graduate mathematics (e.g., MEGR 8172   , MEGR 8174   , or MEGR 8175   ) and at least 18 credit hours of MEGR courses.  Graduate courses from outside the department may be taken, but must be approved by the Associate Chair for Graduate Programs as part of the student’s Plan of Study.  Students are pre-approved to choose one of the following Graduate School courses: GRAD 8201   , GRAD 8202   , GRAD 8210   , or GRAD 8212   .  The Plan of Study must be submitted to the department for review and approval no later than the second semester after admission to the Ph.D. program.  All coursework must be completed within nine years from admission to the program. 

Research Seminar

All Ph.D. students are required to register for  MEGR 8000    each semester through completion of proposal defense. This 1 credit hour course is graded on a pass/unsatisfactory basis, and does not count toward the required 72 degree hours.

• MEGR 8000 - Research Seminar (1)

Responsible Conduct of Research and Academic Integrity Courses

All Ph.D. students are required to complete GRAD 8990    in the first semester, and GRAD 8302    in the first or second semester.  GRAD 8990    is a no credit and non-graded course. GRAD 8302    is a 2 credit hour course, graded on a pass/unsatisfactory basis, and does not count toward the required 72 degree hours.

• GRAD 8302 - Responsible Conduct of Research (2)
• GRAD 8990 - Academic Integrity (0)

Degree Total = 72 Credit Hours

Grade requirements.

A student is expected to achieve grades of A or B in all coursework taken for graduate credit and must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in order to graduate. An accumulation of more than two marginal C grades will result in termination of the student’s enrollment in the graduate program. If a student makes a grade of U in any course, enrollment will be terminated.

The dissertation research is graded on a SP (satisfactory progress) or UP (unsatisfactory progress) basis and, therefore, will not be included in the cumulative average. The second time in which a grade of UP is earned will trigger a discussion between the student and Ph.D. advisor about lack of progress in the program. This discussion will include all possible recommendations from the Ph.D. advisor, such as pursuing a new topic, moving to a new advisor or even termination from the program. The advisor will discuss any recommendation to terminate a student for lack of progress with the Associate Chair for Graduate Programs prior to forwarding such a request to the Graduate School for consideration.

A graduate student whose enrollment has been terminated because of grades is ineligible to attend any semester or summer session unless properly readmitted to the graduate program. Readmission to the program requires approval of the Dean of the Graduate School upon the recommendation of the student’s major department and the Engineering Doctoral Graduate Committee of the College of Engineering.

Residence Requirement

A student may satisfy the residency requirement for the program by completing 18 credit hours, either coursework or research credits, by study-in-residence during the academic year and during the summer terms, as long as the study is continuous. Study-in-residence is deemed to be continuous if the student is enrolled in one or more courses (including research/dissertation credit) in successive semesters until 18 credit hours are earned.

Qualifying Examinations

After completing two semesters in the Ph.D. program, students take qualifying exams in math and two topical areas, selected by the student and their Ph.D. advisor.  The mathematics examination is based on content from the course, Engineering Analysis (this course is currently offered as MEGR 8174   ).  Students must obtain 70% or above on the mathematics exam to pass.

The student and the Ph.D. advisor select the two areas for the topical exams.  70% or above is the passing grade in each of the two topic areas.

For each of the three exams, two outcomes are possible: Pass (70% or more) or Fail (69% or less).  If the student fails any or all of the exams in the first attempt, they are either allowed to retake the failed exam(s) or terminated from the program.  If the student fails any exam for the second time, this is sufficient grounds for termination from the program.

Dissertation

Dissertation committee.

After passing the qualifying exam, students should set up a Dissertation Committee of at least four graduate faculty members. Two of these four members shall be from a department other than the student’s major.  One of these external members shall be chosen by the student in consultation of their Ph.D. advisor, and the other member is appointed as the Graduate Faculty Representative by the Graduate School.  The Ph.D. advisor serves as chair of the committee, must be a member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science (MEES) graduate faculty, and ensures that the composition of the committee is appropriate.  Committee members from outside the University must be appointed Associate Graduate Faculty members at UNC Charlotte. The Dissertation Committee must be approved by the Associate Chair for Graduate Programs.  If there is need to change committee members later, a revised Committee form must be approved and submitted to the Graduate School.

Proposal Defense

Each student must present and defend a Ph.D. dissertation proposal after passing the qualifying exam, following the technical guidelines established by the department. The proposal defense is conducted by the student’s Dissertation Committee and is open to MEES faculty and students. The student shall provide copies of the written proposal to the Committee members at least two weeks before the scheduled defense.

It is expected that the student makes the proposal defense within two semesters after the Qualifying Exam is passed; exceptions will be made at the discretion of the student’s advisor with approval of the Associate Chair for Graduate Programs.

Ph.D. Candidacy

A doctoral student advances to Ph.D. candidacy after the dissertation proposal has been successfully defended.

Once the student has been admitted to candidacy, a tentative date for the dissertation defense should be agreed upon by the candidate and dissertation committee chair. The date should be realistic and allow ample time for completion and review of the dissertation.

Dissertation Defense

Evidence of a high degree of competence in scholarship, written exposition, independent inquiry, and the ability to organize and apply knowledge must be demonstrated by the student in the dissertation.  The student makes a public defense of the dissertation at which time the dissertation, as well as the student’s knowledge of the field, is appropriate matter for examination by the student’s advisory committee. The date of the defense must be publicly announced at least two weeks prior to the defense.  Although questions may be asked by the general audience, evaluation of the dissertation defense is the sole responsibility of the advisory committee.  The dissertation defense is graded on a Pass/Fail basis.

Progress Report and Evaluation

In January of every year, each student is required to submit a written progress report for the previous year, and the advisor(s) is required to submit a written evaluation of the student to the Associate Chair for Graduate Programs.  A rubric is used for evaluation of progress.  Failure to make satisfactory progress may result in discontinuation of the student’s graduate assistantship and suspension from the program.

———————————————————–

Advanced standing option.

To be admitted into the Advanced Standing Option for the Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering program, students must meet all the admission requirements of the Ph.D. above AND must have earned a master’s degree in engineering or closely related fields (e.g., physics, computational mechanics).  Only students who have earned a master’s degree in these areas will be considered, no exceptions will be made.  All other students should apply to the Ph.D. program above (without the Advanced Standing Option). 

Additionally, students with a cumulative GPA less than 3.2 in their master’s degree or more than 2 grades of C in their master’s degree courses are not eligible for Advanced Standing Option.  In this case, students have the option of requesting transfer of credit hours for individual courses with grades of B or above.

The degree requirements for the Advanced Standing Option are similar to the Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering above except that students complete only 42 credit hours.  No transfer credits are allowed under this program.  The degree requirement is as follows:

• 21 credit hours minimum graduate coursework, of which at least 12 credit hours must be MEGR courses
• Students who have not satisfied the mathematics requirement (6 credit hours minimum) as part of their master’s degree must complete that requirement as part of the coursework at UNC Charlotte (e.g., MEGR 8172   , MEGR 8174   , or MEGR 8175   )
• MEGR 8999 - Doctoral Dissertation Research    (21 credit hours minimum)
• All Ph.D. students are required to register for MEGR 8000    each semester through completion of proposal defense/eligibility to enroll in GRAD 9800    (a non-graded course but can satisfy the full-time enrollment requirement)
• All students are required to complete GRAD 8990    in the first semester, and GRAD 8302    in the first or second semester

A minimum of 42 credit hours are required to complete the degree under the Advanced Standing Option.  Once the minimums stated above are satisfied, the remaining hours, if any, can be satisfied via elective coursework or research credit hours ( MEGR 8999   ).  Any courses outside the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science requires departmental approval.

Qualifying Examination

Students who enter the Ph.D. program under the Advanced Standing Option must take the qualifying examination before the end of their third semester in the doctoral program.

Doctoral Program in Mechanical Engineering

PhD Application Deadline DECEMBER 15 View Application Steps

• exploration technologies
• the art, science, and technology of design and manufacturing
• aerospace / mechanical technologies for improving urban life quality

How to Apply

Funding & resources, usc graduate application, dissertation topics, phd alumni snapshot, research topics database.

• Bio-Inspired Engineering
• Combustion and Heat Transfer
• Computational Engineering
• Design and Manufacturing
• Dynamical Systems and Controls
• Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics
• Solid and Applied Mechanics

Shantanu Thakar

Yeo Jung Yoon

View more Doctoral Student & Alumni Profiles

James Croughan

Recent Department Videos

Published on June 8th, 2021

Last updated on August 18th, 2023

• Master’s Programs
• Programs for Non-Engineering Majors
• Application Information & Steps
• Tuition & Funding
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Academic Disciplines
• Faculty/ Research Topic Search
• Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)
• Executive Education
• All Degree Options
• The DEN@Viterbi Experience
• Getting Started
• Online DEN@Viterbi Offerings
• Rankings and Awards
• Next Steps for Newly Admitted Master’s Students
• Next Steps for Newly Admitted Doctoral Students
• Alternatives to Visiting Campus
• Become a Partner
• Certificate Options
• U.S. Active Duty Military & Veterans
• The Boeing Company
• General Motors – Technical Education Program
• Kuwait Oil Company
• Raytheon Technologies
• Saudi Aramco

Shantanu Thakar PhD in Mechanical Engineering

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

The best piece of advice I was given was to not take your career related defeats too seriously and most importantly not letting them affect your mental health. To get into detail, at the time when something you’re not happy with happens, it feels like a huge deal. But for the long term such things do not matter much. For example, if one doesn't get admission in their dream university, although it feels like a huge defeat at the time, after 10 years you won’t even remember much about it. Hence, it is necessary to not take any such defeat too seriously. Ofcourse, you should feel sad and strive to achieve better but it is very important to not let it affect your mental health. Things have a way of falling in place. For example, even if you do not get your dream university, you may end up getting a job better than most people at that university.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?

For me the greatest accomplishment would be successfully completing my PhD from one of the top universities and receiving the Best Research Assistant award in the process. 

What's your favorite impulse purchase from the past 12 months?

It has to be the new Tesla that is yet to be delivered.

Please describe a little about your research and what excites you about it

My research is in the area of AI and machine learning for motion planning for complex robots like robotic arms, or robotic arms mounted on mobile robots or multiple robotic arms moving together for performing several tasks. Making sure that such complex robots move safely and successfully  is extremely challenging. Coming up with novel solutions for solving such challenging problems for different applications is what excites me. However, the thing that excites me most is actually seeing robots move and perform interesting tasks like disinfection, grasping, transportation of objects, to name a few. It is highly satisfying to see that my research can benefit making life easier and safer for people. 

If you could choose any other profession outside of engineering or computer science, what would it be? 

It has to be one of astronomer or a soccer player

What are some factors that helped you decide to pursue your PhD at USC?

The two most important factors for me were my advisor, Prof. Satyandra K. Gupta and the excellent infrastructure and facilities for robotics at USC. Prof. Gupta’s research was exactly what I was interested in and looking to get into. Moreover, he is an excellent advisor who gives you a lot of freedom to express yourself, but also makes sure you are moving towards the goal. He makes sure his students work on problems that are relevant for the industry. The facilities at the center for advanced manufacturing, where he’s the director at, are state-of-the-art. I have not seen so many varieties of robots and 3D printers anywhere else. 

If you were to recommend to an incoming student 3 places to go in California/Los Angeles, what would they be?

It is really difficult to recommend just 3 places in Southern California, let alone in the entire California. Let me stick to SoCal. The first place I recommend is one of my favorite national parks, Channel Island National park, off the coast of Ventura. Not only are the islands extremely beautiful with blue waters and rich marine life for snorkelling and scuba diving, but also, on the way there, you will get to see dolphins, seals and if you’re lucky whales. It’s a must visit! The second is my favorite beach in LA, Hermosa Beach. It is a small city of its own with amazing restaurants. The sunset from Hermosa beach is one of the prettiest I have seen. The third place would be my absolute favorite ice cream place near Westwood, Saffron & Rose. The Persian ice cream they serve is one of the best ice creams I have ever had. 

What is a memory you'll cherish about your time at USC?

Some of the memories I’ll cherish the most are working late at night at the lab chasing a deadline, after which, our entire lab would go to the diner close by for late night food and beer. Apart from this, I miss playing soccer at the Brittingham field till late at night.  

What's one thing about you that might surprise me?

I could solve the Rubik’s cube in less than 30 seconds 

What are your plans after graduation?

I have joined Amazon as a Research Scientist in Robotics.

Hometown (city, country):

Pune, India

Personal Website (if any):

shantanuthakar.github.io

Faculty Advisor:

Prof. Satyandra K. Gupta

Yeo Jung Yoon PhD in Mechanical Engineering

“Be positive!” 

Whenever I face a challenge in my graduate studies, I try to have a positive and fresh mindset. Positive thoughts help me a lot to overcome various hardships. I believe the way I think really affects the way I react.

In my first year of my PhD, My colleagues and I won the best paper award for robotic 3D printing research at ASME IDETC-CIE conference. We worked hard for the project and it felt really great to see our hard work finally pay off.

Recently, I found a cool home-décor shop in K-town and bought a bunch of home décor items. My room is now more fun and interesting with cute planters, various candles, a huge wall clock and artistic tissue box.

My research is about developing robot learning algorithms for various manufacturing applications. I have been fascinated by the fields of robotics and Artificial Intelligence since I was an undergraduate student. I love the idea that my research problems are at the intersection of both fields!   

Travel writer! I love to travel, eat local food, and experience local cultures. It would be interesting to travel to other countries and write about interesting episodes.

Great resources for research, well-organized graduate program, and the location. I visited USC campus and my lab before coming to USC. I was amazed by the wonderful support that USC can offer to prospective graduate students and decided to pursue my PhD here. 

The Getty Center is a place where you can see lots of art and walk beautiful gardens. I also recommend visiting Griffith Observatory. It is especially beautiful during sunset times, and a great place for hiking. Also, if you want to feel the ocean breeze, I recommend going to the beaches in Malibu.

The time I have spent with my friends and colleagues. We studied and hung out together, discussed various topics, and helped each other. My graduate life is wonderful because of them! 

I have been a devoted yoga practitioner for the past 7 years. I love to do beach yoga and hot yoga. It helps me to release stress and clear my mind. 

I plan to pursue a career in academia. I love being in academia because I can work on the problems that I feel most interested in. I also like to work and communicate with scholars and students who have the same research interest as me. They are inspirational!  

I grew up in Seoul, South Korea

Satyandra K. Gupta (Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department)

James Croughan PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Fail often but safely. Often the fastest way to learn and master something is to learn every way of not doing it, either by trying it yourself or watching others attempt it. That being said, you need to make sure each failure does not result in harm to yourself or others. So long as that is possible, the fastest path to success is to fail constantly and creatively.

In high school I struggled with maintaining enough body weight, and had several health issues related to that. At the time I was about six feet tall and weighed 130 pounds, and my doctor told me I needed to put on at least 30 pounds of muscle to be healthy, but the more I put on, the healthier I would be. I very much took that to heart and have been getting stronger ever since. It has been 13 years since I started daily weightlifting and monitoring my diet, and I have now put on nearly 70 pounds of muscle and am the healthiest I have ever been.

Blackout curtains. I saw them at Target and decided to try them out, and instantly started sleeping much better. I had no idea how sensitive to light I was until I experienced sleeping in a genuinely dark room. I probably get an extra 2 hours of sleep now, simply because the light isn’t waking me up too early.

Please describe a little about your research and what excites you about it.

I am an experimentalist who works on very high-performance wings in the Dryden Wind Tunnel. I have built several wings designed to invalidate many of the assumptions used in traditional wing aerodynamics, with a goal of explaining how and why these models must change when key assumptions are false. The two most exciting parts of this are the implications and how my analysis process works. My research clearly shows that many of the design rules currently used in wing design only apply to a small range of wing designs. If you go outside of these traditional designs, much higher performance wings are possible than what traditional aerodynamics would predict. How I determine this is also very exciting. All of my wings were designed to cover a broad range of possible outcomes without knowing the exact math that might predict those outcomes, making an accurate prediction of the results impossible beyond basic intuition. As such, I really didn’t know what to expect when I first started seeing my results. When they finally came in, they far exceeded my expectations, which is awesome.

Lawyer. I love debating anything and everything and am very extroverted and analytical, so trial lawyer or something like that would make sense and be fun.

I wanted to pursue bigger and crazier projects than what I had been doing previously, and I knew I needed a stronger educational background to be qualified to do that. USC and Dr. Uranga were the only school and advisor combination I looked at that offered a specialization in system, experimental, or mechanical design, in combination with a specialization in a more traditional engineering area. Additionally, I am from the LA area, and have absolutely zero desire to leave and have been a fan of USC for a long time, so that made it a very easy choice.

• Watch your favorite band at the Hollywood Bowl.
• Climb Mt. Baldy or Mt. San Jacinto.
• Take a long walk on the beach in Malibu around sunset.

All the trips to all-you-can-eat sushi and Korean bbq with lab-mates and classmates. Lots and lots of good food and good times.

I travel a ton but have a rather short list of places I have been. I am on a round trip plane flight about every 50 days on average, yet have somehow never been to New York, for example.

I am in the pure writing stage of my thesis work, and have already started working full-time for an aerospace company as I finish that up. I was previously a consultant for Rhoman Aerospace, and became VP of Engineering and Controls in July.

Claremont, California, USA

Dr. Alejandra Uranga

Best Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Programs

Mechanical engineering includes the study of thermal and mechanical systems. These are the top undergraduate schools where the highest engineering degree offered is a doctorate. Read the methodology »

To unlock full rankings, SAT/ACT scores and more, sign up for the U.S. News College Compass !

• Clear Filters

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA

• #1 in Mechanical
• #1 in Engineering Programs (doctorate)

Though the Massachusetts Institute of Technology may be best known for its math, science and engineering education, this private research university also offers architecture, humanities, management and social science programs. The school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just across the Charles River from downtown Boston.

(fall 2022)

SAT, GPA and More

Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA

• #2 in Mechanical
• #3 in Engineering Programs (doctorate)  (tie)

Georgia Tech, located in the heart of Atlanta, offers a wide range of student activities. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, an NCAA Division I team, compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference and have a fierce rivalry with the University of Georgia. Since 1961, the football team has been led onto the field at home games by the Ramblin' Wreck, a restored 1930 Model A Ford Sport Coupe. Georgia Tech has a small but vibrant Greek community. Freshmen are offered housing, but aren't required to live on campus. In addition to its campuses in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia Tech has campuses in France, Ireland, Costa Rica, Singapore and China.

(out-of-state)

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA

• #3 in Mechanical

The University of California, Berkeley overlooks the San Francisco Bay in Berkeley, Calif. Students at this public school have more than 1,000 groups to get involved in, including more than 60 fraternity and sorority chapters.

Stanford University

Stanford, CA

• #4 in Mechanical
• #2 in Engineering Programs (doctorate)

The sunny campus of Stanford University is located in California’s Bay Area, about 30 miles from San Francisco. The private institution stresses a multidisciplinary combination of teaching, learning, and research, and students have many opportunities to get involved in research projects.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL

• #5 in Mechanical
• #5 in Engineering Programs (doctorate)  (tie)

The University of Illinois is located in the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign in east-central Illinois, only a few hours from Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis. The school's Fighting Illini participate in more than 20 NCAA Division I varsity sports and are part of the Big Ten Conference. The university boasts one of the largest Greek systems in the country, and almost a quarter of the student body is involved. It’s not hard to find something to do on campus with more than 1,600 student organizations, including professional, political and philanthropic clubs. All freshmen are required to live on campus.

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA

• #6 in Mechanical  (tie)

The California Institute of Technology focuses on science and engineering education and has a low student-to-faculty ratio of 3:1. This private institution in Pasadena, California, is actively involved in research projects with grants from NASA, the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Purdue University--Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN

• #8 in Engineering Programs (doctorate)  (tie)

Purdue University's West Lafayette, Indiana, campus is the main campus in the Purdue University system, which encompasses four other campuses throughout the state. About 20% of students are affiliated with Greek life, and Purdue offers a wide range of activities and organizations. Performance groups include the "All American" Marching Band, six jazz bands and two symphony orchestras. The Boilermakers, Purdue’s athletic teams, compete in the Division I Big Ten Conference and are well known for their dominant men’s and women’s basketball teams. The Boilermaker Special, Purdue’s official mascot, is a railroad locomotive cared for and maintained by the student-run Purdue Reamer Club. Although no students are required to live in university housing, about one-third of undergraduates live on campus.

University of Michigan--Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI

• #8 in Mechanical

The university boasts of Ann Arbor, only 45 minutes from Detroit, as one of the best college towns in the U.S. Freshmen are guaranteed housing but not required to live on campus. Students can join one of the school’s more than 1,500 student organizations or 62 Greek chapters. Athletics play a central role at Michigan, including the football team’s fierce rivalry with Ohio State. Michigan also offers highly ranked graduate programs, including the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, College of Engineering, Law School and Medical School, in addition to the well-regarded School of Dentistry and Taubman College for Architecture and Urban Planning. The University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers is ranked among the top hospitals in the country.

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA

• #9 in Mechanical

Carnegie Mellon University, a private institution in Pittsburgh, is the country’s only school founded by industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The school specializes in academic areas including engineering, business, computer science and fine arts.

Cornell University

• #10 in Mechanical
• #10 in Engineering Programs (doctorate)

Cornell University, a private school in Ithaca, New York, has 14 colleges and schools. Each admits its own students, though every graduate receives a degree from Cornell University. The university has more than 1,000 student organizations on campus.

Texas A&M University

College Station, TX

• #11 in Mechanical
• #13 in Engineering Programs (doctorate)  (tie)

Ready to be an Aggie? All students assume the nickname at Texas A&M, an academic and athletic powerhouse in central Texas. Once an all men’s school called the Agricultural and Mechanical College – now shortened to A&M – the university today is coed and offers a wide variety of majors and activities. Students can choose from more than 1,000 clubs and organizations, including nearly 60 fraternities and sororities. About 10% of students go Greek. More students, about 25%, play in Texas A&M intramural sports leagues, one of the largest programs in the country. The school’s varsity sports compete in the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference, cheered on by mascot Reveille IX, a collie. Miss Rev, as the collie is known, is also the highest-ranking member in the school’s Cadet Corps, the largest ROTC program in the nation (not including programs at service academies). First-year students interested in community service can get involved right away through the Freshmen in Service and Hosting program (FISH). All students can give back during The Big Event, the largest single-day, student-run volunteer effort in the country in which more than 22,000 Aggies work to improve the nearby cities of College Station and Bryan. For many students, these communities are also home; freshmen are not required to live on campus and many choose to live in College Station or Bryan.

University of Texas at Austin

• #12 in Mechanical
• #11 in Engineering Programs (doctorate)

The University of Texas at Austin is one of the largest schools in the nation. It’s divided into 13 schools and colleges, the biggest of which is the College of Liberal Arts. It also has highly ranked graduate programs, including the McCombs School of Business, Cockrell School of Engineering and School of Nursing. Students can participate in more than 1,000 clubs and organizations or in the sizable UT Greek system. The university has several student media outlets, and its sports teams are notorious competitors in the Division I Big 12 Conference. UT also offers hundreds of study abroad programs, with the most popular destinations being Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, France and China. Freshmen do not have to live on campus.

See all 33 Ranked Schools

Sign up for U.S. News College Compass today to find the school that's right for you. You'll gain access to more than 1,800 expanded school profiles, all entering class stats, including starting salary by major, SAT scores, GPAs and financial aid packages given to students by schools.

More Schools in this List (Alphabetical)

Arizona State University

• in Mechanical
• in Engineering Programs (doctorate)

Arizona State University’s Tempe campus offers more than 200 research-based programs in the arts, business, engineering and more. The campus is located just outside of Phoenix, in the suburb of Tempe, Arizona.

Reputation Score

Columbia University

New York, NY

Columbia University has three undergraduate schools: Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), and the School of General Studies. This Ivy League, private school guarantees students housing for all four years on campus in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights neighborhood in New York City.

Duke University

Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke University is a private institution that has liberal arts and engineering programs for undergraduates. The Duke Blue Devils sports teams have a fierce rivalry with the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill Tar Heels and are best known for their outstanding men's basketball program.

Iowa State University of Science and Technology

Iowa State University of Science and Technology dwarfs Ames, the small town in which it resides. The large school offers more than 850 student organizations, and sports are a big part of campus life. The Iowa State Cyclones compete in the NCAA Division I Big 12 Conference and share a special rivalry with the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. Despite the Cyclones moniker, the school mascot is a cardinal named Cy because a cyclone was hard to put into costume form. There are more than 60 fraternities and sororities at Iowa State, and most chapters have their own houses. Freshmen do not have to live on campus.

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD

Johns Hopkins University is a private institution in Baltimore that offers a wide array of academic programs in the arts, humanities, social and natural sciences, and engineering disciplines. The Hopkins Blue Jays men’s lacrosse team is consistently dominant in the NCAA Division I; other sports teams at Hopkins compete at the Division III level.

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University was the first land-grant institution in the country and became a model for similar schools. Michigan State is also home to one of the nation's only environmental journalism organizations, a solar car racing team and a student-run organic farm. Its graduate programs include the highly ranked College of Education and the well-regarded Eli Broad College of Business.

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, NC

North Carolina State University, known as NC State for short, is the largest four-year college in the state. Students have more than 100 degree programs and more than 580 clubs and organizations to choose from.

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL

Northwestern University is a private school in Evanston, Ill., about 30 minutes outside of Chicago. Undergraduate students have about 100 options for majors or can design their own non-traditional degree program.

The Ohio State University

Columbus, OH

OSU offers more than 200 undergraduate majors, as well as a Personalized Study Program where students can design a nontraditional education. The university also offers a variety of graduate programs through such highly ranked schools as the College of Education and Human Ecology, Max M. Fisher College of Business and College of Medicine. Students can participate in more than 1,000 on-campus clubs and organizations, including more than 60 fraternities and sororities, or volunteer through the Pay It Forward program. Sports are a big part of campus life, with The Ohio State University Buckeyes competing in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference. All freshmen must live on campus, unless they are from Central Ohio and can commute. Students can also study abroad in more than 75 countries through OSU.

The Pennsylvania State University--University Park

University Park, PA

There is rarely a dull moment on The Pennsylvania State University campus, also known as Happy Valley. With around more than 1,000 clubs and organizations, there are broad opportunities to get involved in campus life. The school mascot is the Nittany Lion, and teams compete in the Division I Big Ten Conference. The football team plays in Beaver Stadium, which is one of the largest arenas in North America, which seats nearly 107,000 fans. Penn State is home to a thriving Greek system with more than 70 sororities and fraternities. More than 16,000 students volunteer in THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. Students raise money for pediatric cancer research and awareness throughout the year and participate in a 46-hour dance marathon - no sitting or sleeping allowed. Freshmen must live in one of five housing areas on campus. Across the street from campus is State College, a bustling small town with an array of coffee shops, restaurants, shops and bars populated mostly by students. Surrounded by mountains, the school is also close to skiing, snowboarding and hiking opportunities.

• Best Colleges
• Best Colleges by State
• Best Graduate Schools
• Best Associate Degrees
• Best Doctoral Programs
• Best Online Colleges
• Best Online Master's
• Optimal Choice Colleges

25 Best Master's in Mechanical Engineering 2020

We ranked the top 25 colleges that offer a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering based on the median salary of this program's graduates one year after completion. The school with the highest median salary for this degree is Massachusetts Institute of Technology, at $108,700. Texas A&M University-College Station offers the lowest median debt on the list, at $19,454. Students who graduated with a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from one of the top 25 schools had a median starting salary between $77,800 and $108,700.

Tuition, median salaries, and median debt were reported by the U.S. Department of Education in November 2019. View our methodology for more details about these rankings or read more about the top-ranked schools .

GradReports has over 200 partner colleges that advertise on our site. Search results include only our partner colleges, which are marked with the word "Ad." Learn more about how we make money.

2020 Best Colleges Highlights

Massachusetts institute of technology.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. The department values experiential and project-based learning, and the master's research, design, or development project is a major component of the degree.

Students typically finish the degree in one-and-a-half to two years and must complete a master's thesis, considered the cornerstone of the program. Research or project work for the thesis is conducted under a senior or principal research scientist in the Mechanical Engineering department. The program consists of 72 credit units, including 48 graduate credit units and at least one graduate math course, but not including thesis preparation. Possible subjects in the program include Dynamics & Acoustics, Solid Mechanics & Materials, Computational Engineering, and Fluid Mechanics & Combustion.

Visit the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's website .

Stanford University

Stanford University's Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering is well suited for students who plan to work in industry as mechanical engineering professionals. The program is offered through the Department of Mechanical Engineering, which emphasizes engineering solutions to societal problems and has a particular focus in energy, transportation, and health.

The degree requires 45 units that must be completed within three years. A master's thesis is not required for the program, but students can get involved in research projects and work with a faculty advisor on research.

The university also offers a Design Impact specialization of the Mechanical Engineering degree, as well as a general Master of Science in Engineering degree for students who want an interdisciplinary course load and experience. An MS in Mechanical Engineering can also be completed by part-time students in three to five years through Stanford's Center for Professional Development.

Visit Stanford University's website .

Oakland University

Oakland University's Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree aims to prepare students for a career in mechanical engineering or for further graduate study in the field. The degree can be completed by full-time students or part-time students who also work in industry, as classes generally take place in the late afternoon and evening.

Students can specialize in solid & structural mechanics, energy, fluid & thermal systems, manufacturing processes, automotive engineering, and general mechanical engineering. To complete the degree, students must finish 32 graduate credit hours, of which 24 should be approved courses in the School of Engineering and Computer Science. Students work with a master's advisor to determine their course of study and are also encouraged to complete a graduate engineering project or master's thesis research. Possible class options in the program include Mathematical Analysis for Engineers, Mechanical Vibrations, Computational Fluid Dynamics, and Polymeric Materials.

Visit Oakland University's website .

Ohio State University - Main Campus

Ohio State University's Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering program allows students to deepen their knowledge in mechanical engineering and conduct original research in the field. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary research and collaboration with other departments to help solve important problems in engineering.

The university offers students a thesis option and non-thesis option to complete the program, both of which require at least 30 graduate credit hours. The thesis option requires 18 credit hours of graduate courses and a master's thesis, while the non-thesis track requires 27 credit hours of graduate courses. Sample courses in the program include Statistics, Dynamics, Engineering Thermal Sciences, and Introduction to Fluid Mechanics.

Visit Ohio State University's website .

Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University offers a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering through its Whiting School of Engineering. The program is designed to prepare students directly for a career in mechanical engineering or can be earned as part of a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, though individuals who enter as Master's students are not automatically accepted into the school's Ph.D. program.

The degree can be completed in two different ways. The all-course option requires students to complete a sequence of ten courses over approximately three semesters. In the second option, which can be completed in three to four semesters, students must finish eight courses and a master's thesis essay in order to graduate. The essay can either result from original laboratory research or from work done in a Cooperative Educational Environment or Co-op. Possible courses for both options include Intro to Linear Systems, Finite Element Methods, and Advanced Topics in Fabrication and Microengineering. Students can also concentrate in one or two specializations like Aerospace Engineering, Energy and Sustainability, or BioMechanical Engineering.

Visit Johns Hopkins University's website .

• Undergraduate
• Graduate Handbook
• Independent Research (ME 590)
• Fellowships
• Accreditation
• Academic Advising
• Contact Academic Services

We solve problems others can’t – in ways others won’t

At Michigan, you’re surrounded by a unique combination of world-class expertise, resources and facilities. U-M has 100 graduate programs ranked in the top 10 in the United States – a combination of breadth and expertise that makes the University an interdisciplinary powerhouse.

Our mechanical engineering graduate programs build upon this strength. We excel at working across the boundaries between disciplines and departments, pioneering new knowledge and discovery that makes a difference for both academia and society.

We shape leaders

Graduate programs.

We offer doctoral and masters programs in mechanical engineering. Both programs are administered through the Rackham Graduate School. Visit the Rackham Graduate School Mechanical Engineering program page for details.

Rackham’s website provides information about the application process and is a great resource for information regarding:

Transcripts

Living in Ann Arbor

Tips for International students

Doctor of Philosophy Program

Our Ph.D program creates a culture of scholarship and high-impact research, training articulate researchers who become leaders in both society and academia. The program balances challenging coursework with field-leading research and real-world impact.

Excellence: Consistently ranked among the top 5 mechanical engineering programs nationwide.

Breadth and Depth: More than 60 tenure-track faculty in research specialties that touch every aspect of mechanical engineering.

Guaranteed Full Funding – While you are active and making progress towards your degree, tuition waiver, stipend, and health insurance will be provided.

Master of Science in Engineering Program

Top employers recognize that a candidate with a Michigan Mechanical Engineering masters degree is a tremendous asset to their company. They respect the academic rigor and the evidence-based approach to design that are hallmarks of our curriculum and program.

This recognition leads to great internship opportunities, which in turn, leads to great jobs., The Michigan Mechanical Engineering masters degree is an exceptionally strong foundation for your career.

Combined Degree Programs

Sequential BSE/MSE (SUGS): Earn a B.S.E. and M.S.E. in 5 years

Masters of Management/MSE Dual Degree: Dual degree with the U-M Ross School of Business

Engineering Sustainable Systems: Dual degree with the School of Natural Resources and Environment

JI-SUGS: Sequential B.S.E./M.S.E. program with the U-M-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute

• News & Events
• Contact & Visit
• Faculty & Staff
• McCormick Advisory Council
• Departments & Institutes
• Diversity Data
• Faculty Journal Covers
• Areas of Study
• Bachelor's Degrees
• Music & Engineering
• Combined BS / MS Program Collapse Combined BS / MS Program Submenu
• Murphy Scholars Program Projects
• Undergraduate Honors
• Certificates & Minors Collapse Certificates & Minors Submenu
• Integrated Engineering Studies
• Engineering First® Program
• Theme Requirement
• Research Opportunities
• Personal & Career Development
• Global Opportunities
• Existing Groups
• McCormick Community
• Transfer AP/IB Credits
• ABET Course Partitioning
• Enrollment and Graduation Data
• Full-time Master's
• Part-time Master's
• MS with Interdepartmental Minors
• Application Checklist
• Application FAQs
• Financial Aid
• International Students
• Student Groups
• Career & Professional Development
• All Areas of Study
• Departments & Programs
• Apply to Northwestern Engineering
• Faculty Fellows
• Office of the Dean
• Administration, Finance, Facilities, & Planning
• Alumni Relations & Development
• Career Development
• Corporate Engagement
• Customer Service Center
• Faculty Affairs
• Global Initiatives
• Graduate Studies
• Information Technology
• Marketing & Communications
• McCormick Advising System
• Personal Development StudioLab
• Professional Education
• Research Offices
• Undergraduate Engineering
• Newsletter Signup
• Information for the Media
• Tech Room Finder

Northwestern Engineering Launches Joint Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science MS Program

New program will leverage the strengths of the two departments.

Northwestern Engineering’s Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering share a strong history of interconnected research activities, established research centers, and close educational efforts. The collaboration between these departments is driven by numerous research areas of national priority, including advanced manufacturing, aerospace, civil infrastructure, the data revolution, energy storage, integrated computational materials engineering, and the Materials Genome Initiative.

The two departments’ relationship is taking another step forward.

Starting in fall 2024, the joint Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering program will present a unique degree opportunity offering a curriculum that combines the strengths of these two departments. Co-directed by the McCormick School of Engineering’s Yip-Wah Chung and Greg Wagner , this interdisciplinary program allows the most talented students to develop broad expertise in both fields, enhancing career opportunities in industry and research.

Chung said the program fills a crucial need by equipping future engineers with the holistic skill set needed to drive transformative advancements in technology and industry across different disciplines.

The MS in ME and MSE is a non-thesis master’s degree program, which students may complete on a full-time or part-time basis. Full-time students typically complete their degree in three to four quarters of study. Students will take four mechanical engineering and four materials science courses, plus 1-2 units of independent study involving a research project, and 2-3 additional engineering courses, allowing students to specialize or minor in a related area.

The development of the program also represents another significant leap for Northwestern Engineering as a whole.

“This joint MS degree program not only embodies McCormick’s core DNA of interdisciplinary collaboration, but also signifies potential avenues for expanding our educational and research endeavors and potential industrial partnerships,” Chung said. “It underscores our dedication to staying at the forefront of engineering education and research, positioning McCormick as a leader in cultivating the next generation of interdisciplinary engineers and innovators.”

Get our news in your inbox.

Sign up for our newsletter.

Check out our magazine.

Find more in depth stories and get to know Northwestern Engineering.

Cross-cutting programs that drive innovation

Latest news, will it fly uva engineering students test sabre 1 rocket.

UVA students launched a monster rocket over 3,000 feet skyward. Would the launch punch their ticket to the Spaceport America Cup in New Mexico this summer?

Generating Temperature Comparable to a Star — In the Lab

Winners circle: oranges offer appealing solution to a toxic problem.

Meet Our Faculty

More about our department, center for applied biomechanics.

As the largest university-based injury biomechanics laboratory in the world, the UVA MAE Center for Applied Biomechanics specializes in impact biomechanics for injury prevention.

Rapid Prototyping Lab

The UVA MAE Rapid Prototyping Lab is a state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing facility that provides Computer-Aided Design, FDM 3D Printing, and Poly-Jet 3-D Printing services to our students, faculty, staff, and external clients.

35 Best Master’s Degrees in Mechanical Engineering

BestCollegeReviews.org Staff

Contributing Writer

Learn about our editorial process .

Updated October 12, 2022

BestCollegeReviews.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Are you ready to discover your college program?

Methodology

Featured online schools, #35 university of florida, #34 university of california - santa barbara, #33 arizona state university, #32 rice university, #31 vanderbilt university, #30 iowa state university, #29 university of southern california, #28 rensselaer polytechnic institute, #27 lehigh university, #26 north carolina state university, #25 university of washington, #24 university of maryland, #23 pennsylvania state university, #22 virginia polytechnic institute, #21 michigan state university, #20 university of wisconsin, #19 columbia university, #18 texas a&m university, #17 ohio state university, #16 university of minnesota, #15 duke university, #14 johns hopkins university, #13 california institute of technology, #12 northwestern university, #11 university of california, los angeles, #10 university of michigan, #9 massachusetts institute of technology, #8 the university of texas at austin, #7 cornell university, #6 purdue university northwest, #5 carnegie mellon university, #4 university of illinois at urbana - champaign, #3 georgia institute of technology, #2 university of california, berkeley, #1 stanford university, more best college reviews resources.