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Manufacturing

Colleges offering this major Rankings Trends

What you'll do in college

Manufacturing and industrial technology programs are the hands-on counterparts to mechanical and industrial engineering. Coursework focuses on applied calculus, materials science, and production processes. You will spend significant time in labs and shops—running CNC machines, programming robotic arms, troubleshooting PLCs, and testing prototypes for manufacturability.

What you'll do after college

Graduates go into roles that connect design engineers with the shop floor: manufacturing engineer, quality engineer, automation technician, controls technician, and plant supervisor. Employers include automakers, aerospace firms, defense contractors, and consumer goods producers. The pay is strong, and these roles are highly secure as they require physical interaction with production equipment.

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$88,882
1,177
100–92%
$87,677
2,710
92–82%
$88,120
2,741
82–58%
$92,465
1,161
58–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$87,436
1,012
400–1050
$87,090
2,404
1050–1150
$91,968
2,285
1150–1280
$87,748
1,003
1290–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings by acceptance rate and institution category

$72,916p10 $95,480p90 Art & Music STEM, Business & Military Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University 20–30% 10–20% Savannah College of Art and Design · $67,674 Johnson & Wales University - Providence · $101,303 Maine Maritime Academy · $113,873 Rochester Institute of Technology · $90,855 New Jersey Institute of Technology · $84,855 Cal Poly - Pomona · $89,692 SUNY Polytechnic Institute · $83,382 Lawrence Technological University · $88,745 Michigan Technological University · $89,085 Oregon Institute of Technology · $96,169 Cal State Maritime Academy · $112,673 Dordt University · $84,493 Berry College · $86,681 McPherson College · $69,941 Lenoir-Rhyne University · $84,924 Keene State College · $62,670 Eastern New Mexico University · $89,671 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · $88,219 Alcorn State University · $69,032 North Carolina State University · $75,261 Clemson University · $101,538 Purdue University · $93,938 Cal State Long Beach · $73,364 University of California, Davis · $115,349 Auburn University · $41,351 North Carolina A&T State University · $79,096 Texas A&M University - College Station · $107,707 Fort Valley State University · $83,803 Norfolk State University · $75,678 Northern Illinois University · $87,451 Tarleton State University · $87,752 University of West Florida · $67,128 Virginia Tech · $81,277 New Mexico State University · $87,967 Central Connecticut State University · $92,671 University of Arkansas at Little Rock · $85,811 West Texas A&M University · $86,446 Central State University · $74,381 Florida International University · $76,854 Jackson State University · $67,635 Minnesota State University, Mankato · $89,754 Texas Southern University · $68,206 University of Central Missouri · $77,301 Fresno State · $75,716 University of Texas Permian Basin · $117,086 Western Carolina University · $82,086 Eastern Michigan University · $82,303 Jacksonville State University · $95,260 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff · $94,714 Texas Tech University · $90,378 Eastern Illinois University · $89,315 University of Colorado Boulder · $49,575 University of Tennessee, Chattanooga · $89,617 Louisiana Tech University · $102,310 Western Illinois University · $79,828 Wichita State University · $90,135 Farmingdale State College · $82,742 University of Pittsburgh - Bradford · $86,737 Oklahoma State University · $93,139 University of Alabama in Huntsville · $72,679 University of Michigan - Flint · $89,412 University of West Alabama · $78,435 Bemidji State University · $87,894 University of Idaho · $90,118 University of Houston · $87,750 Purdue University Northwest · $88,472 Rowan University · $88,324 Elizabeth City State University · $78,124 University of North Carolina at Charlotte · $91,443 East Tennessee State University · $87,789 Middle Tennessee State University · $79,797 Youngstown State University · $86,519 Arkansas State University · $92,167 Saginaw Valley State University · $86,119 Mississippi Valley State University · $68,414 Southeast Missouri State University · $76,725 Tennessee Technological University · $90,947 Kennesaw State University · $95,723 Metropolitan State University of Denver · $94,710 University of Toledo · $89,642 San Jose State University · $94,947 University of North Texas · $90,266 Bowling Green State University · $83,550 Eastern Washington University · $92,186 Fairmont State University · $86,174 Kent State University at Kent · $84,135 Nevada State University · $90,148 University of Maryland Eastern Shore · $75,777 Ferris State University · $95,324 Purdue University Fort Wayne · $92,122 Savannah State University · $64,413 University of New Hampshire at Manchester · $91,166 Western Michigan University · $93,796 Michigan State University · $100,982 Lamar University · $135,548 University of Arizona · $69,111 Mississippi State University · $92,987 Wayne State University · $95,101 Indiana University - Indianapolis · $82,835 Morehead State University · $90,481 SUNY Buffalo State University · $81,169 Murray State University · $116,519 Central Washington University · $95,233 Colorado Mesa University · $90,839 Colorado State University - Pueblo · $82,439 Fort Hays State University · $93,741 Northern Kentucky University · $98,407 Saint Cloud State University · $75,832 South Dakota State University · $93,878 University of Akron · $86,924 University of Maine · $92,267 University of Massachusetts - Lowell · $109,110 West Virginia University · $73,310 Northern Michigan University · $83,177 Northwest Missouri State University · $66,296 University of Southern Maine · $87,395 Illinois State University · $87,915 Francis Marion University · $86,917 University of Wisconsin - River Falls · $85,661 Temple University · $81,998 Salisbury University · $78,580 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · $83,597 University of Houston - Downtown · $72,916 South Carolina State University · $65,620 University of Wisconsin - Platteville · $91,090 Arizona State University · $79,159 Cleveland State University · $91,538 University of Alaska - Anchorage · $85,088 Virginia State University · $68,797 Fitchburg State University · $69,132 University of North Alabama · $85,997 University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh · $89,088 Cal State Los Angeles · $73,175 Texas A&M University - Kingsville · $75,562 Central Michigan University · $94,473 University of Wisconsin - Green Bay · $90,512 University of Wisconsin - Stout · $90,759 Chico State · $92,886 Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania · $92,141 Texas State University · $79,424 Old Dominion University · $87,069 Western Kentucky University · $84,002 Southeastern Louisiana University · $95,891 Indiana State University · $88,684 Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi · $61,927 North Dakota State University · $89,622 Pennsylvania State University - Altoona · $83,333 Pennsylvania State University - Berks · $81,243 Pennsylvania State University - Erie-Behrend College · $87,498 Plymouth State University · $84,935 East Carolina University · $95,175 Millersville University of Pennsylvania · $78,618 University of Southern Mississippi · $84,642 Missouri State University - Springfield · $87,133 Texas A&M University - San Antonio · $81,859 University of Northern Iowa · $107,832 University of Memphis · $86,688 University of Kentucky · $88,015 Sam Houston State University · $88,392 Appalachian State University · $72,268 Pennsylvania Western University · $85,489 Pittsburg State University · $96,563 Southern Illinois University - Carbondale · $89,879 Northwestern State University of Louisiana · $66,312 Nicholls State University · $94,366 University of Texas at Tyler · $90,048 Kansas State University · $92,569 Midwestern State University · $89,664 Sul Ross State University · $79,066 Troy University · $86,625 University of Southern Indiana · $88,652 Austin Peay State University · $82,748 Bluefield State University · $85,722 Idaho State University · $84,799 Missouri Southern State University · $90,313 Middle Georgia State University · $89,984 Northeastern State University · $81,744 Montana State University · $84,209 Missouri Western State University · $73,137 Lake Superior State University · $83,862 Langston University · $87,125 Montana State University - Northern · $78,997 Ohio State University - Lima · $86,591 Shawnee State University · $83,971 South Georgia State College · $88,988 Southwestern Oklahoma State University · $87,859 University of the District of Columbia · $89,866 Utah Valley University · $93,346 Wayne State College · $83,724 Weber State University · $95,015 Liberty University · $95,480 LeTourneau University · $89,561 Walla Walla University · $92,194 William Penn University · $82,819 High Point University · $89,095 University of Dayton · $90,536 Spring Arbor University · $92,970 Ohio Northern University · $98,535 Southern Adventist University · $85,021 University of Tulsa · $104,075 Methodist University · $82,286 Wayland Baptist University · $92,580 University of Findlay · $103,010 Benedict College · $72,533 Catholic University of America · $91,165 Indiana Wesleyan University · $89,663 Brigham Young University - Idaho · $100,359 Benedictine College · $84,233 University of Rochester · $92,498 Indiana Institute of Technology · $82,565 New York Institute of Technology · $85,450 University of Bridgeport · $91,806 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus · $77,748 Roger Williams University · $88,237 University of Hartford · $60,620 University of Rio Grande · $93,529 Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo · $78,892 Florida A&M University · $78,150 United States Military Academy · $89,880 Art & Music: mean $84,489 STEM, Business & Military: mean $94,370 Liberal Arts: mean $77,742 Public University: mean $85,934 Religious University: mean $90,895 Private University: mean $84,057 20–30%: mean $78,892 10–20%: mean $84,015 All colleges: p10 $72,916 All colleges: p90 $95,480
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Manufacturing 233 7,789 83% / 17% 5% $87,149 97%
Mechanical Engineering Technology 48 1,267 88% / 12% 4% $85,145 98%
Electrical Engineering Technology 65 724 87% / 13% 8% $88,379 97%
Engineering Technologies 25 657 85% / 15% 2% $86,468 97%
Industrial Technology 44 630 79% / 21% 2% $85,945 97%
Engineering Technology 39 523 85% / 15% 4% $85,388 96%
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians 6 483 81% / 19% 13% $87,807 97%
Industrial Technology/Technician 9 329 86% / 14% 2% $83,933 95%
Packaging Science 8 300 60% / 40% 1% $91,826 98%
Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician 15 293 88% / 12% 13% $88,675 98%
Manufacturing Engineering Technology 23 221 90% / 10% 1% $90,683 97%
Automotive Technology 9 194 95% / 5% 2% $85,890 97%
Drafting and Design Technology/Technician 4 183 33% / 67% 7% $81,517 100%
Computer Engineering Technology 23 157 83% / 17% 3% $82,609 96%
Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician 9 125 90% / 10% 2% $90,460 97%
Mechatronics Engineering Technology 4 120 87% / 13% 4% $94,540
Electronic Systems Engineering Technology 1 119 78% / 22% 1% $108,114 100%
Applied Engineering 6 117 65% / 35% 16% $85,470 97%
Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology 1 113 88% / 12% 2% $106,540 94%
Industrial Engineering Technology 3 83 78% / 22% 10% $95,823 98%
Electromechanical Engineering Technology 5 76 92% / 8% 7% $91,072 100%
Energy Systems Technology 5 74 93% / 7% 0% $89,616 98%
Creative Technology & Design 1 72 51% / 49% 1% $49,575
Automation Engineering Technology 4 59 95% / 5% 2% $98,954 94%
Industrial Production Technology 2 59 86% / 14% 2% $91,500 99%
Electronic Engineering Technology 6 57 89% / 11% 2% $78,002 97%
Automotive Engineering Technology 1 49 94% / 6% 6% $89,053 92%
Environmental/Environmental Engineering Technology/Technician 1 44 80% / 20% 2% $72,268 95%
Environmental Engineering Technology 6 38 58% / 42% 0% $89,544 100%
Industrial Safety Technology/Technician 2 37 68% / 32% 3% $77,330 96%
Plastics Technology 2 34 91% / 9% 0% $98,628 98%
Applied Technology 2 33 94% / 6% 0% $88,108 100%
Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician 2 33 91% / 9% 12% $90,750 100%
Industrial Production 1 32 94% / 6% 3% $92,987 99%
Diesel Technology 1 29 97% / 3% 0% $78,997 96%
Professional Studies 1 29 55% / 45% 3% $67,652
Manufacturing Systems Technology 1 28 96% / 4% 4% $96,387 100%
Science Technology 1 28 50% / 50% 0% $66,749 94%
Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician 1 26 100% / 0% 0% $90,694 97%
Welding Engineering Technology 2 25 92% / 8% 0% $100,730 100%
Power Plant Technology/Technician 1 23 87% / 13% 0% $113,873
Sustainable Biomaterials and Packaging 1 22 73% / 27% 0% $41,351 100%
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians 2 18 72% / 28% 0% $90,096 100%
Engineering Technologies/Technicians 2 18 94% / 6% 0% $78,220 100%
Marine Engineering Technology 1 18 72% / 28% 0% $112,673 100%
Robotics Engineering Technology 1 18 89% / 11% 17% $80,149 100%
Electronics Engineering Technology 2 16 94% / 6% 0% $90,252
Applied Science Technology 1 15 87% / 13% 0% $85,088 96%
Plastics Engineering Technology 1 15 87% / 13% 7% $83,715 95%
Advanced Manufacturing and Design 1 14 100% / 0% 0% $105,305 97%
Robotics Technology 4 11 82% / 18% 0% $82,782
Applied Sciences 1 10 10% / 90% 0% $89,622
Environmental Sustainability, Health and Safety 1 10 40% / 60% 0% $89,954 100%
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians 1 9 100% / 0% 0% $76,138 94%
Engineering Technology & Management for Agricultural Systems 1 9 78% / 22% 33% $88,219
Applied Science 3 7 29% / 71% 14% $80,326
Automation Engineer Technology/Technician 1 7 100% / 0% 0% $85,602
Welding Engineering Technology/Technician 1 6 50% / 50% 0% $93,921
Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology/Technician 1 6 100% / 0% 0% $70,028 97%
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians 2 5 40% / 60% 0% $84,130
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians 1 5 100% / 0% 0% $113,470 100%
Aerospace Engineering Technology 2 3 100% / 0% 0% $82,962 97%
Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician 1 3 100% / 0% 0% $88,099
Electromechanical/Electromechanical Engineering Technology/Technician 1 3 100% / 0% 0% $93,072
Environmental Technology 1 3 100% / 0% 33% $82,286
Energy Systems Technology/Technician 1 2 50% / 50% 0% $90,504
Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD 1 2 100% / 0% 0% $66,899 100%
Nuclear Engineering Technology 1 2 100% / 0% 0% $89,933
Petroleum Technology/Technician 1 2 100% / 0% 0% $94,366 98%
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician, General 1 2 100% / 0% 0% $92,984
Industrial Production Technologies 2 1 100% / 0% 0% $70,083 84%
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technology 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $89,785
Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering Technology 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $89,706
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $85,021
Welding Technology 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $87,461
Assistive/Augmentative Technology 2 0 $85,389
Chemical Process Technology 1 0 $85,010
Engineering and Physics Technology 1 0 $46,896 97%
Quality Control Technology/Technician 1 0 $92,193
Robotics and Manufacturing Engineering Technology 1 0 $93,725 100%
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair 1 0 $93,261