Best Mechanical Engineering Colleges in Texas2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Mechanical Engineering program in Texas means weighing more than just name recognition. We analyzed 30 colleges across the state, scoring each on the metrics that matter most to long-term career success: graduation rates, post-graduation earnings, net cost, and academic rigor.
The data tells an interesting story: Rice University leads on selectivity (8% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across Texas's Mechanical Engineering programs, the typical in-state price is $18,126 and the average graduation rate is 58%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $40,621 within one year of completing their degree.
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| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rice UniversityPrivate | Perfect· 53 | 8% | 96% | $1,348 | $82,899 | 6:1 | 50 | 4,562 |
| 2 | Southern Methodist UniversityPrivate | Excellent· 45 | 61% | 83% | $24,746 | $79,280 | 11:1 | 70 | 7,106 |
| 3 | Texas Christian UniversityPrivate | Great· 41 | 43% | 86% | $18,714 | $56,818 | 14:1 | 67 | 10,919 |
| 4 | Texas A&M University-College Station (TAMU)Public | Great· 40 | 63% | 84% | $18,685 | $77,785 | 19:1 | 107 | 60,710 |
| 5 | The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)Public | Great· 38 | 29% | 88% | $18,618 | $82,227 | 18:1 | 104 | 42,100 |
| 6 | Baylor UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 51% | 80% | $32,236 | $75,726 | 15:1 | 83 | 15,007 |
| 7 | Texas A&M University-Central TexasPublic | Strong· 35 | 100% | — | $-1,325 | $45,636 | 15:1 | 26 | 1,698 |
| 8 | The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyPublic | Strong· 35 | 85% | 49% | $7,695 | $60,924 | 19:1 | 67 | 27,026 |
| 9 | Texas A&M University-TexarkanaPublic | Strong· 35 | 80% | 31% | $11,213 | $40,302 | 13:1 | 21 | 1,748 |
| 10 | University of St ThomasPrivate | Strong· 34 | 93% | 69% | $16,635 | $46,940 | 15:1 | 39 | 2,826 |
| 11 | University of Houston-Clear LakePublic | Strong· 34 | 75% | 51% | $9,994 | $50,121 | 19:1 | 37 | 6,082 |
| 12 | The University of Texas at DallasPublic | Good· 33 | 65% | 71% | $14,813 | $61,113 | 27:1 | 42 | 21,317 |
| 13 | The University of Texas at ArlingtonPublic | Good· 33 | 81% | 57% | $14,602 | $69,188 | 23:1 | 60 | 30,834 |
| 14 | University of HoustonPublic | Good· 33 | 70% | 65% | $12,613 | $74,043 | 21:1 | 74 | 37,175 |
| 15 | Angelo State UniversityPublic | Good· 33 | 79% | 41% | $13,147 | $40,595 | 18:1 | 45 | 5,515 |
| 16 | LeTourneau UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 41% | 61% | $24,073 | $63,073 | 11:1 | 52 | 1,510 |
| 17 | The University of Texas Permian BasinPublic | Good· 33 | 84% | 43% | $9,055 | $65,167 | 20:1 | 32 | 4,122 |
| 18 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | Good· 32 | 71% | 67% | $18,376 | $73,268 | 21:1 | 85 | 32,446 |
| 19 | University of North TexasPublic | Good· 31 | 72% | 60% | $13,489 | $68,173 | 23:1 | 81 | 33,680 |
| 20 | Texas A & M University-KingsvillePublic | Good· 31 | 92% | 46% | $11,410 | $56,135 | 16:1 | 48 | 4,622 |
| 21 | Prairie View A & M UniversityPublic | Good· 31 | 75% | 43% | $17,552 | $66,678 | 16:1 | 40 | 8,527 |
| 22 | The University of Texas at TylerPublic | Good· 31 | 92% | 47% | $13,583 | $64,977 | 17:1 | 35 | 7,009 |
| 23 | Midwestern State UniversityPublic | Good· 31 | 87% | 41% | $11,235 | $56,371 | 16:1 | 42 | 4,043 |
| 24 | Lamar UniversityPublic | Good· 30 | 86% | 37% | $12,281 | $68,359 | 18:1 | 54 | 7,945 |
| 25 | The University of Texas at El PasoPublic | Average· 29 | 100% | 46% | $11,289 | $62,393 | 20:1 | 64 | 20,547 |
| 26 | Texas A & M University-Corpus ChristiPublic | Average· 29 | 89% | 34% | $14,374 | $66,404 | 18:1 | 46 | 7,804 |
| 27 | Sam Houston State UniversityPublic | Average· 28 | 85% | 55% | $15,419 | $41,979 | 20:1 | 65 | 18,138 |
| 28 | The University of Texas at San AntonioPublic | Average· 28 | 88% | 51% | $9,699 | $64,313 | 25:1 | 71 | 29,675 |
| 29 | Tarleton State UniversityPublic | Average· 26 | 94% | 51% | $20,599 | $48,585 | 18:1 | 72 | 12,263 |
| 30 | West Texas A & M UniversityPublic | Average· 26 | 97% | 47% | $20,915 | $78,028 | 18:1 | 54 | 6,771 |