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Mechanical Engineering Technology Degree

59 schools compared · Average earnings $62,227/yr

Students study the practical application of mechanical engineering principles, including machinery operation, CAD/CAM, CNC machining, and mechanical systems maintenance. Graduates typically pursue careers as mechanical engineering technicians, CNC programmers, machinery maintenance specialists, and product testing technicians. These hands-on skills are in high demand in advanced manufacturing and aerospace.

What Mechanical Engineering Technology Graduates Do

Your work will be hands-on, bridging the gap between design and reality. You might spend your days as an automotive technician, using diagnostic software to pinpoint why a hybrid engine is failing before physically repairing it. Or, you could be an engineering technologist in a lab, building and testing prototypes for a new consumer product and collaborating with engineers to refine the design. High-growth paths in aerospace could have you maintaining the complex systems that keep aircraft flying safely.

Career progression often means moving from executing tasks to leading them. You could advance to a senior technologist role, managing a testing facility, supervising a team of mechanics, or becoming the go-to expert for a specific manufacturing process. The hands-on, physical nature of this work provides a strong defense against automation. AI has limited impact on jobs that require you to be on-site solving tangible problems. However, roles focused on digital design, like mechanical drafting, face headwinds as software automates routine drawing tasks, shifting human work toward validating complex designs.

Schools Offering

Avg Grad Earnings

$62,227/yr

Avg DegreeOutlook Score

62/100

AI Automation Risk

Moderate

32% task exposure

Common Career Paths

Where Mechanical Engineering Technology graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 87,000 combined openings per year.

Career Path	Salary Range	Openings/yr	Growth	AI Risk
Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians	$79,830 $65K$102K	900	+8.1%	32%
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other	$77,390 $60K$98K	5,700	+1.5%	24%
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians	$70,760 $59K$87K	1,300	+1.1%	42%
Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians	$68,730 $57K$83K	3,200	0.0%	28%
Mechanical drafters	$68,510 $56K$86K	3,300	-6.5%	50%
Motorboat mechanics and service technicians	$54,950 $45K$65K	2,600	+6.0%	8%
Automotive service technicians and mechanics	$49,670 $38K$66K	70,000	+4.2%	8%

Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians

$79,830

$65K $102K

900 openings/yr +8.1% growth 32% AI risk

Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other

$77,390

$60K $98K

5,700 openings/yr +1.5% growth 24% AI risk

Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians

$70,760

$59K $87K

1,300 openings/yr +1.1% growth 42% AI risk

Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

$68,730

$57K $83K

3,200 openings/yr 0.0% growth 28% AI risk

Mechanical drafters

$68,510

$56K $86K

3,300 openings/yr -6.5% growth 50% AI risk

Motorboat mechanics and service technicians

$54,950

$45K $65K

2,600 openings/yr +6.0% growth 8% AI risk

Automotive service technicians and mechanics

$49,670

$38K $66K

70,000 openings/yr +4.2% growth 8% AI risk

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).

View the complete Mechanical Engineering Technology school rankings — 59 programs analyzed →

Best Schools for Mechanical Engineering Technology

Top 20 of 59 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.

#	School	DW Score	Earnings	ROI
1	Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO	72 71–72	$72,334/yr	19.8x
2	Weber State University Ogden, UT	72 71–72	$64,828/yr	32.2x
3	Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA	71 71–72	$64,339/yr	34.4x
4	Farmingdale State College Farmingdale, NY	71 70–71	$62,223/yr	24.1x
5	Central Connecticut State University New Britain, CT	70 70–71	$73,788/yr	16.6x
6	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN	70 69–70	$67,093/yr	19.4x
7	Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA	70 70–71	$65,871/yr	21.7x
8	Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN	70 70–71	$65,385/yr	21.5x
9	Montana State University Bozeman, MT	70 70–71	$62,605/yr	24.3x
10	SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, NY	70 69–70	$57,431/yr	24.6x
11	Indiana University-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN	69 68–69	$66,816/yr	17.9x
12	Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN	69 69–70	$66,479/yr	19.1x
13	Virginia State University Petersburg, VA	69 69–69	$65,472/yr	19.2x
14	SUNY Polytechnic Institute Utica, NY	69 69–69	$62,681/yr	21.4x
15	University of Houston Houston, TX	69 69–70	$61,163/yr	20.4x
16	University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC	69 69–70	$60,048/yr	25.9x
17	Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI	68 68–68	$66,747/yr	14.8x
18	University of Toledo Toledo, OH	68 68–68	$66,034/yr	15.7x
19	Purdue University Northwest Hammond, IN	68 68–69	$65,059/yr	20.3x
20	Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI	68 68–68	$64,284/yr	14.9x
21	Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, OK	68 68–68	$61,141/yr	18.5x
22	Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, KS	68 68–69	$57,234/yr	23.4x
23	Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH	68 68–69	$56,656/yr	19.0x
24	Fairmont State University Fairmont, WV	68 68–69	$54,410/yr	23.2x
25	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred Alfred, NY	67 67–67	$60,968/yr	19.2x
26	California State University Maritime Academy Vallejo, CA	66 64–66	$98,661/yr	31.1x
27	Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, MN	66 66–67	$64,005/yr	17.3x
28	University of Maine Orono, ME	66 65–66	$61,991/yr	14.2x
29	CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, NY	66 66–66	$48,372/yr	25.7x
30	University of North Texas Denton, TX	65 64–65	$59,941/yr	14.9x
31	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide Daytona Beach, FL	64 62–64	$93,433/yr	19.0x
32	University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Johnstown, PA	64 63–64	$65,341/yr	11.8x
33	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale, IL	64 64–65	$62,503/yr	13.0x
34	University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OH	64 63–64	$61,835/yr	12.9x
35	Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI	64 64–64	$49,799/yr	13.9x
36	Michigan Technological University Houghton, MI	63 63–63	$61,443/yr	10.4x
37	Northern Michigan University Marquette, MI	63 63–64	$54,815/yr	13.5x
38	Brigham Young University-Idaho Rexburg, ID	61 61–61	$62,440/yr	32.5x
39	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, CA	60 60–60	$64,243/yr	20.6x
40	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA	59 59–60	$65,341/yr	7.7x
41	New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich, RI	58 57–58	$70,916/yr	4.5x
42	SUNY College of Technology at Canton Canton, NY	57 56–57	$58,227/yr	15.8x
43	Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY	56 56–57	$69,261/yr	2.9x
44	University of Dayton Dayton, OH	56 56–57	$66,055/yr	3.5x
45	Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology Flushing, NY	56 55–56	$51,567/yr	6.0x
46	Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX	55 54–55	$51,917/yr	15.5x
47	Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA	54 53–54	$53,234/yr	7.8x
48	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Daytona Beach, FL	53 52–54	$93,433/yr	4.5x
49	University of New Hampshire at Manchester Manchester, NH	53 53–53	$64,826/yr	9.2x
50	Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH	52 51–52	$56,332/yr	10.2x
51	Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction, CO	52 51–52	$49,827/yr	11.8x
52	American Public University System Charles Town, WV	52 52–52	$48,094/yr	13.3x
53	University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Durham, NH	51 51–52	$64,826/yr	7.5x
54	Western New England University Springfield, MA	48 48–48	$69,326/yr	2.7x
55	Colorado State University Pueblo Pueblo, CO	46 48–46	$42,707/yr	10.4x
56	Art Center College of Design Pasadena, CA	45 44–45	$59,384/yr	1.9x
57	LeTourneau University Longview, TX	45 44–45	$52,625/yr	2.7x
58	Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, TX	44 46–45	$41,317/yr	9.6x
59	McPherson College McPherson, KS	38 40–38	$42,278/yr	2.0x

Highest Earning Mechanical Engineering Technology Programs

Schools where Mechanical Engineering Technology graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School	1-Year Earnings	DW Score
California State University Maritime Academy	$98,661/yr	66
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide	$93,433/yr	64
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach	$93,433/yr	53
Central Connecticut State University	$73,788/yr	70
Metropolitan State University of Denver	$72,334/yr	72
New England Institute of Technology	$70,916/yr	58
Western New England University	$69,326/yr	48
Rochester Institute of Technology	$69,261/yr	56
Purdue University-Main Campus	$67,093/yr	70
Indiana University-Indianapolis	$66,816/yr	69

Best ROI for Mechanical Engineering Technology

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Mechanical Engineering Technology.

School	ROI Multiple	Earnings	DW Score
Kennesaw State University	34.4x	$64,339/yr	71
Brigham Young University-Idaho	32.5x	$62,440/yr	61
Weber State University	32.2x	$64,828/yr	72
California State University Maritime Academy	31.1x	$98,661/yr	66
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	25.9x	$60,048/yr	69
CUNY New York City College of Technology	25.7x	$48,372/yr	66
SUNY Buffalo State University	24.6x	$57,431/yr	70
Montana State University	24.3x	$62,605/yr	70
Farmingdale State College	24.1x	$62,223/yr	71
Pittsburg State University	23.4x	$57,234/yr	68

Want to compare two Mechanical Engineering Technology programs side by side? Use the comparison tool →

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Consider the Trade Route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Mechanical Engineering Technology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the typical salary after a Mechanical Engineering Technology degree?

Across 59 schools, Mechanical Engineering Technology graduates earn an average of $62,227 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $41,317 to $98,661 depending on the school.

What is the AI automation risk for Mechanical Engineering Technology?

Our analysis classifies Mechanical Engineering Technology as "Moderate" for AI risk — approximately 32% of typical job tasks overlap with current AI capabilities. That puts some of the daily work in the automation-sensitive category.

Where should I study Mechanical Engineering Technology?

Our data ranks Metropolitan State University of Denver first among 59 Mechanical Engineering Technology programs. Its score of 72/100 reflects strong outcomes across earnings ($72,334/yr), return on investment, and career durability.

What's the outlook for a Mechanical Engineering Technology degree?

The average 10-year earnings multiple is 15.8x tuition. This is a strong return on investment. The spread between the best and worst programs is wide, so individual school selection has a major impact.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →