Mechanical engineering is a diverse branch of engineering that deals with the design of objects in motion. This includes machines, mechanical components, and large objects like clocks and cars. Graduates of a Master’s program in mechanical engineering can expect to work in consulting, management, banking, and even medicine. And with automation and Artificial Intelligence becoming an ever-growing field, engineers who can design and build things that machines aren't able to will be highly sought after in the near future.

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Founded in 1861, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, is a private, independently-owned school known for its hands-on education in the applied sciences. It is located near Boston, in the North-eastern US and has a total student population of around 11,000 students. Prospective international students can expect to pay a $75 application fee. Once accepted, MIT graduate students can expect to pay $49,580 per year. They will also have access to 20 research labs where they can study topics ranging from biomedical engineering to nanotechnology. An innovative $100K Entrepreneurship Competition offers students a chance to turn their business ideas into reality as well as to bridge the gap between the laboratory and the business world.

Stanford University – School of Engineering

The Engineering school at Stanford University was founded in 1925 and is located in the South-western US, between San Hose and San Francisco. The school’s proximity to Silicon Valley allows its students a unique opportunity for internships and networking events with tech industry professionals. Prospective international graduate students can expect to pay a $125 application fee. Once accepted, the student can expect to pay $52,188 of tuition per year and enjoy access to 65 research labs across campus, along with 3300 other engineering graduate students.

University of California – Berkeley College of Engineering

The Berkeley College of Engineering is part of the public system of universities in the State of California. It is located next to Oakland and across the strait from San Francisco. Similar to Stanford, the school’s proximity to Silicon Valley gives its students greater access to industry professionals and networking opportunities. Prospective international students can expect to pay a $125 application fee while accepted graduate students can enjoy access to 40 research centres. Since it’s a public university, students can expect to pay a yearly tuition fee of only $26,604 per year. An additional accelerated master’s program allows students to graduate within one year instead of the traditional two years required for a master’s degree.

California Institute of Technology – Division of Engineering and Applied Science

Located in Pasadena, the engineering school at California Institute of Technology is a short drive away from Los Angeles. It’s application fee for prospective international students is $100 and accepted students can enjoy access to 107 full-time on-campus staff. Mechanical engineering students interested in working in the bioengineering field can also enrol in a joint research program offered with UCLA’s Geffen School of Medicine.

Georgia Institute of Technology – College of Engineering

The college of engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology is located in the South-eastern US, in Atlanta, Georgia. It is a public university that has been consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the US. Prospective international students can expect to pay an application fee of $85. Once accepted, the yearly tuition fee is $28,568 and the student can enjoy access to 545 full-time on-campus staff. Students can also enrol in dual programs with universities abroad, such as Germany’s TU-Munich or the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and Jiao Tong University in China.

University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) – College of Engineering

The college of engineering at the University of Michigan is another public university. It is located in the North-eastern US in the state of Michigan. Prospective international students can expect to pay an initial $90 application fee. Once accepted, the yearly tuition is $47,894. Programs such as regular luncheons and the ASK program connects engineering students with alumni and other industry professionals. The local college town of Ann Arbor is also a bustling and lively place for students to relax on days off. 

University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) – College of Engineering

This is another public state university located in the North-eastern state of Illinois, in the city of Champaign. The university offers more than 50 research centres for its graduate students, along with $200 million in research funding. Prospective international students can expect to pay an application fee of $90. Once accepted, students can enjoy access to campus facilities such as the Technology Entrepreneur Centre as well as an Engineering Career Services Office to help in their job search efforts.

Princeton University – School of Engineering & Applied Science

Founded in 1746, Princeton University is another private Ivy League University with a long history. It is located in the college town of Princeton, an hour drive south of New York. Prospective international students can expect to pay a $90 application fee. Once accepted, graduate students can enjoy access to many research centres as well as an Innovation Centre that bridges the gap between technology and entrepreneurship.

Purdue University (West Lafayette) – College of Engineering

Purdue University is a public research university located in West Lafayette, in the state of Indiana in the North-eastern US. Its most famous alumni is astronaut Neil Armstrong, who was the first person to walk on the moon. Prospective international students can expect to pay an application fee of $75. Once accepted, the annual tuition fee is $29,134. Students can choose to work in multidisciplinary research areas such as bioengineering and get involved in dozens of student clubs and organizations.  

Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon is another research university located in the North-eastern US, in the large city of Pittsburgh, in the state of Pennsylvania. It was originally founded in 1900 by the industrialist and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie. Prospective international students can expect to pay an application fee of $75 and a yearly tuition fee of $43,000. Once accepted, students enjoy access to an international research experience with access to programs in Portugal, Chile, and Japan. An accelerated program is also available for those wanting to complete their master’s degree within one year.

Conclusion

A graduate degree in mechanical engineering can take you to many places and across many fields. Students interested in a top master’s program in the US can expect to do so at one of the many universities mentioned above. Since the majority of programs are located in the North-east or South-west US, prospective students should expect to relocate to those areas if accepted. All prices correct at the time of writing.

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