The Best Graduate Schools Offering Mechanical Engineering Programs
Higher Education Articles October 21, 2016Overview of Schools offering Mechanical Engineering Programs
The focus of coursework in a mechanical engineering graduate program is on the design, research, and development of consumer products, including mechanics, tools, and engines. Coursework may incorporate subject areas such as nanotechnology, energy, bioengineering, and thermodynamics. A bachelor’s degree is a requirement for most employers for entry-level positions in the field; however, employers for advanced career, teaching and research positions often require candidates to hold a master’s degree or doctorate. In this article, we take a look at some top mechanical engineering graduate schools in the United States that are ranked highly and offer master’s and doctoral degrees in the field.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA
In 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the top position on its list of best mechanical engineering graduate programs. A Master of Science (M.S.) degree program in Mechanical Engineering, centering around a thesis, is available through the school. Coursework includes fluid and solids mechanics, computational mechanics, transport phenomena, nonlinear dynamics, and acoustics. Students enrolled in the doctoral program in mechanical engineering at MIT may complete either a Ph.D. or Doctor of Science (Sc.D.). Admission criteria for both degrees typically require incoming students to have completed a principal and secondary area of mechanical engineering study, in addition to presentation and defense of a thesis of significant original research.
Stanford University in Stanford, CA
In 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked Stanford University in second position on its list of best mechanical engineering graduate programs. A Master of Science (M.S.) in Mechanical Engineering is available through the Mechanical Engineering Department; the program targets individuals who aim at entering engineering practice or pursuing of doctoral study. Fourteen specialties may be available, including biomechanical engineering, automatic controls, design methodology, fluid or solid mechanics, or energy systems. Admission criteria to Stanford’s Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering program typically require incoming students to secure funding and faculty supervision for research projects.
List of Top Schools offering Mechanical Engineering Programs
| School Name | Location |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA |
| University of California – Berkeley | Berkeley, CA |
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA |
| University of Michigan – Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, MI |
| University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign | Urbana, IL |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, NY |
| Purdue University – West Lafayette | West Lafayette, IN |
