Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Best colleges for Mechanical Engineering in New York

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

Program-level earnings — not school prestige — rank these. Among the New York programs in the federal field-of-study file, Cornell University leads: its Mechanical Engineering graduates earn a median $112,212 four years after finishing, against the field's $92,135 national median. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026.)

New York Mechanical Engineering programs by graduate earnings
#CollegeGrad earnings, 4 yrsVs field median
1Cornell University$112,212+$20,077
2Columbia University in the City of New York$111,491+$19,356
3SUNY Maritime College$106,932+$14,797

How big is the earnings gap between New York Mechanical Engineering programs?

$5,280 separates the top and bottom of this list — $112,212 at Cornell University against $106,932 at SUNY Maritime College, four years after finishing. Same field, same state, same federal measure: where you study moves pay by that much.

Do New York Mechanical Engineering graduates earn more than the national median?

The state's strongest program pays $20,077 above the $92,135 national median for the field. Program-level medians come from federal tax records of graduates who received aid, so they track actual pay rather than advertised salaries.

Frequently asked questions

Which New York college is best for Mechanical Engineering?
By graduate earnings, Cornell University — its Mechanical Engineering bachelor's graduates earn a median $112,212 four years out, the highest of the 3 New York programs in the federal file.
What do Mechanical Engineering graduates earn in New York?
Across the ranked New York programs, median earnings four years after completion run from $106,932 to $112,212. The field's national median is $92,135.
Is a Mechanical Engineering degree worth it?
On national medians, yes — Mechanical Engineering graduates earn $43,775/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. See the full field profile for payback math.