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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

$80,445
1,171
100–85%
$80,960
2,696
85–73%
$81,141
2,700
73–53%
$84,123
1,167
52–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$79,190
923
400–1040
$79,267
2,141
1040–1150
$82,594
2,209
1150–1290
$84,917
922
1300–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings vs. selectivity rank

$68,557p10 $89,884p90 Arts Military STEM Non-Research Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University Public University 1–25 Private University 21–40 Savannah College of Art and Design · $74,717 Johnson & Wales University - Providence · $104,574 United States Air Force Academy · $70,656 Maine Maritime Academy · $87,847 Cal State Maritime Academy · $123,685 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology · $84,526 Lawrence Technological University · $84,656 Dordt University · $72,880 Keene State College · $65,584 McPherson College · $51,725 Cal State Long Beach · $81,675 Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo · $87,411 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University · $79,098 Cal State Los Angeles · $66,180 Alcorn State University · $70,955 Cal Poly - Pomona · $90,731 Clemson University · $90,243 Florida International University · $82,845 North Carolina A&T State University · $66,407 Salisbury University · $72,390 San Jose State University · $92,805 Fort Valley State University · $68,697 Norfolk State University · $73,451 Northern Illinois University · $85,470 University of West Florida · $92,520 New Mexico State University · $84,655 Tarleton State University · $74,616 Central Connecticut State University · $83,734 University of Arkansas at Little Rock · $74,556 Central State University · $64,410 Illinois State University · $79,110 Mississippi State University · $72,000 Jackson State University · $52,968 Minnesota State University, Mankato · $72,787 Arkansas State University · $70,589 Texas Southern University · $71,616 Wayne State University · $98,506 University of Central Missouri · $79,849 Appalachian State University · $68,557 Fresno State · $71,074 University of Texas Permian Basin · $75,076 Louisiana Tech University · $77,833 University of Houston · $81,717 Austin Peay State University · $77,723 Central Michigan University · $85,620 Eastern Michigan University · $84,125 Jacksonville State University · $80,932 Oklahoma State University · $82,569 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff · $70,543 New Jersey Institute of Technology · $88,914 Texas Tech University · $82,862 University of Alaska - Anchorage · $88,245 Texas State University · $77,098 Northern Michigan University · $77,483 University of Colorado Boulder · $84,212 Cleveland State University · $83,565 East Carolina University · $83,315 Eastern Illinois University · $75,473 Millersville University of Pennsylvania · $71,197 Missouri Southern State University · $79,902 Missouri State University - Springfield · $75,294 Morehead State University · $74,847 Murray State University · $101,067 Nicholls State University · $71,690 Northeastern State University · $68,684 Northwest Missouri State University · $52,216 Northwestern State University of Louisiana · $65,510 Oregon Institute of Technology · $93,762 Southern Illinois University - Carbondale · $73,873 Temple University · $80,800 Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi · $59,910 Texas A&M University - Kingsville · $66,401 Troy University · $73,442 University of Houston - Downtown · $71,630 University of Memphis · $78,885 University of Northern Iowa · $94,424 University of Southern Indiana · $74,665 University of Southern Maine · $59,339 University of Tennessee, Chattanooga · $77,366 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · $73,926 University of Texas at Tyler · $78,778 Western Illinois University · $76,965 Farmingdale State College · $82,430 Texas A&M University - San Antonio · $70,390 University of Pittsburgh - Bradford · $72,745 University of Alabama in Huntsville · $74,900 University of West Alabama · $69,508 University of Wisconsin - La Crosse · $79,674 Bemidji State University · $80,510 Michigan Technological University · $83,845 Old Dominion University · $86,205 University of Idaho · $77,611 Purdue University Northwest · $75,526 Valdosta State University · $70,340 Elizabeth City State University · $69,551 SUNY Polytechnic Institute · $79,011 Chico State · $89,957 East Tennessee State University · $73,958 Middle Tennessee State University · $70,795 Saginaw Valley State University · $77,742 University of North Carolina at Charlotte · $79,298 Youngstown State University · $85,352 Mississippi Valley State University · $60,143 Southeast Missouri State University · $73,671 Tennessee Technological University · $78,409 Western Carolina University · $68,799 Metropolitan State University of Denver · $90,386 University of Toledo · $82,352 University of Central Oklahoma · $31,740 University of North Texas · $71,106 Bowling Green State University · $77,410 Eastern Washington University · $99,449 Fairmont State University · $80,056 Kennesaw State University · $83,157 Kent State University at Kent · $78,489 Nevada State University · $80,061 University of Maryland Eastern Shore · $76,341 Michigan State University · $96,014 Purdue University Fort Wayne · $82,885 Savannah State University · $76,951 University of New Hampshire at Manchester · $80,793 Western Michigan University · $86,767 Indiana University - Indianapolis · $72,975 Rowan University · $84,479 Cal State Dominguez Hills · $79,313 Central Washington University · $92,025 Colorado Mesa University · $71,359 Colorado State University - Pueblo · $52,861 Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania · $75,660 Ferris State University · $89,258 Fort Hays State University · $75,267 Indiana State University · $76,983 Lamar University · $79,275 Northern Kentucky University · $83,473 SUNY Buffalo State University · $83,427 Saint Cloud State University · $69,521 South Dakota State University · $77,996 Southern Utah University · $81,628 University of Akron · $75,893 University of Arizona · $61,063 University of Maine · $88,197 University of Massachusetts - Lowell · $110,986 West Virginia University · $53,335 Western Kentucky University · $72,873 Wichita State University · $74,306 Francis Marion University · $72,223 University of Wisconsin - River Falls · $73,143 Arizona State University · $79,008 South Carolina State University · $62,648 University of Wisconsin - Platteville · $81,920 University of North Alabama · $74,238 University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh · $78,805 University of Wisconsin - Green Bay · $77,948 University of Wisconsin - Stout · $78,648 Southeastern Louisiana University · $82,503 North Dakota State University · $78,428 Pennsylvania State University - Altoona · $80,198 Pennsylvania State University - Berks · $80,198 Pennsylvania State University - Erie-Behrend College · $80,644 Pennsylvania State University - New Kensington · $80,198 Pennsylvania State University - York · $80,198 Plymouth State University · $78,794 University of Southern Mississippi · $87,931 Pennsylvania Western University · $76,064 Pittsburg State University · $83,418 Idaho State University · $82,305 Kansas State University · $85,606 Midwestern State University · $76,921 Sul Ross State University · $67,590 Virginia State University · $76,736 Bluefield State University · $72,571 Sam Houston State University · $73,543 West Texas A&M University · $75,343 Middle Georgia State University · $74,436 Montana State University · $81,914 Lake Superior State University · $74,474 Langston University · $70,274 Missouri Western State University · $69,519 Montana State University - Northern · $72,181 Ohio State University - Lima · $71,894 Shawnee State University · $87,049 Southwestern Oklahoma State University · $64,353 University of the District of Columbia · $81,967 Utah Valley University · $83,163 Wayne State College · $67,062 Weber State University · $86,531 Liberty University · $76,413 LeTourneau University · $80,905 Walla Walla University · $76,671 William Penn University · $70,721 University of Dayton · $83,447 Siena Heights University · $71,920 Ohio Northern University · $77,928 Southern Adventist University · $71,134 University of Tulsa · $96,314 Methodist University · $72,031 University of Findlay · $94,126 Benedict College · $60,636 Bryan College - Dayton · $70,505 Brigham Young University - Idaho · $90,132 Benedictine College · $71,255 Rochester Institute of Technology · $91,043 Indiana Institute of Technology · $71,720 University of New Haven · $77,582 Western New England University · $87,849 University of Bridgeport · $76,772 University of Hartford · $72,023 New York Institute of Technology · $78,768 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus · $82,008 Harrisburg University of Science and Technology · $74,043 University of Rio Grande · $77,052 Purdue University · $83,160 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · $83,930 Texas A&M University - College Station · $89,884 Auburn University · $39,274 Virginia Tech · $98,448 North Carolina State University · $75,235 University of Rochester · $92,775 Arts: mean $89,646 Military: mean $94,063 STEM Non-Research: mean $84,591 Liberal Arts: mean $63,396 Public University: mean $77,391 Religious University: mean $77,609 Private University: mean $78,886 Public University 1–25: mean $78,322 Private University 21–40: mean $92,775 All colleges: p10 $68,557 All colleges: p90 $89,884
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Manufacturing 224 7,734 83% / 17% 3% $79,730 97%
Mechanical Engineering Technology 46 1,221 90% / 10% 3% $78,364 97%
Electrical Engineering Technology 64 676 87% / 13% 5% $82,019 97%
Engineering Technologies 22 667 85% / 15% 4% $79,268 96%
Industrial Technology 48 648 79% / 21% 1% $74,075 96%
Engineering Technology 38 530 86% / 14% 7% $78,317 98%
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians 6 477 83% / 17% 5% $84,696 96%
Industrial Technology/Technician 9 376 84% / 16% 1% $74,410 95%
Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician 15 303 92% / 8% 3% $83,606 98%
Packaging Science 8 293 53% / 47% 1% $86,394 98%
Manufacturing Engineering Technology 20 228 89% / 11% 2% $78,953 98%
Computer Engineering Technology 21 197 87% / 13% 4% $78,149 96%
Automotive Technology 9 175 97% / 3% 1% $72,827 99%
Drafting and Design Technology/Technician 4 124 34% / 66% 3% $73,619 100%
Electronic Systems Engineering Technology 1 119 90% / 10% 1% $91,482 96%
Mechatronics Engineering Technology 4 107 84% / 16% 2% $81,111
Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology 1 107 93% / 7% 0% $87,836 100%
Electromechanical Engineering Technology 7 103 90% / 10% 0% $84,655 100%
Applied Engineering 3 102 65% / 35% 15% $74,706
Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician 9 99 89% / 11% 4% $79,263 97%
Energy Systems Technology 5 85 88% / 12% 4% $85,652 96%
Industrial Engineering Technology 3 81 84% / 16% 12% $86,793 92%
Industrial Production Technology 2 74 91% / 9% 1% $84,335 97%
Creative Technology & Design 1 63 49% / 51% 0% $84,212
Electronic Engineering Technology 6 47 85% / 15% 9% $80,461 98%
Applied Technology 2 45 89% / 11% 2% $85,828 100%
Environmental/Environmental Engineering Technology/Technician 1 45 89% / 11% 0% $68,557 100%
Automotive Engineering Technology 1 44 89% / 11% 5% $83,198 100%
Industrial Safety Technology/Technician 2 36 89% / 11% 0% $70,157 95%
Environmental Engineering Technology 4 34 50% / 50% 3% $81,181 100%
Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician 2 34 94% / 6% 0% $77,248 97%
Automation Engineering Technology 3 33 91% / 9% 0% $85,595 94%
Plastics Technology 2 33 79% / 21% 0% $86,658 98%
Sustainable Biomaterials and Packaging 1 29 93% / 7% 0% $39,274 100%
Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician 1 27 85% / 15% 0% $79,636 100%
Power Plant Technology/Technician 1 26 92% / 8% 0% $87,847
Electrical/Mechanical Engineering Technology 1 25 88% / 12% 4% $91,990 96%
Marine Engineering Technology 1 25 92% / 8% 0% $123,685 98%
Industrial Production 1 24 96% / 4% 0% $72,000 98%
Professional Studies 1 23 39% / 61% 0% $71,057
Environmental Sustainability, Health and Safety 1 22 36% / 64% 0% $87,544 100%
Science Technology 1 22 55% / 45% 0% $59,548 96%
Advanced Manufacturing and Design 1 21 76% / 24% 14% $84,729 100%
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians 2 20 85% / 15% 0% $81,907 100%
Engineering Technologies/Technicians 2 19 100% / 0% 0% $74,683 100%
Welding Engineering Technology 2 17 82% / 18% 6% $90,686 100%
Robotics Engineering Technology 1 17 100% / 0% 6% $75,889
Applied Science Technology 1 16 56% / 44% 6% $88,245 96%
Robotics Technology 4 15 87% / 13% 0% $77,165
Diesel Technology 1 15 93% / 7% 0% $72,181 100%
Industrial Production Technologies 2 14 14% / 86% 0% $61,936 84%
Automation Engineer Technology/Technician 1 13 100% / 0% 15% $77,969
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians 1 13 100% / 0% 0% $117,815 100%
Applied Science 3 12 50% / 50% 0% $74,018
Electronics Engineering Technology 2 12 100% / 0% 8% $75,719
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians 1 12 83% / 17% 0% $86,427 93%
Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD 1 12 58% / 42% 0% $52,824 93%
Applied Sciences 1 10 10% / 90% 0% $78,428
Manufacturing Systems Technology 1 10 80% / 20% 10% $79,414
Engineering Technology & Management for Agricultural Systems 1 9 78% / 22% 33% $83,930
Plastics Engineering Technology 1 5 100% / 0% 0% $88,820 100%
Welding Engineering Technology/Technician 1 5 100% / 0% 0% $90,012
Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician 1 4 75% / 25% 0% $84,479
Petroleum Technology/Technician 1 4 75% / 25% 0% $71,690 98%
Welding Technology 1 4 100% / 0% 0% $71,027
Aerospace Engineering Technology 2 3 100% / 0% 0% $75,959 97%
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians 2 3 33% / 67% 0% $73,350
Drafting and Design Technology 1 3 33% / 67% 0% $71,323
Energy Systems Technology/Technician 1 3 100% / 0% 0% $92,470
Environmental Technology 1 3 33% / 67% 33% $72,031
Robotics and Manufacturing Engineering Technology 1 2 100% / 0% 0% $91,990 96%
Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology/Technician 1 2 100% / 0% 0% $53,335 94%
Chemical Process Technology 1 1 0% / 100% 0% $73,486
Electromechanical/Electromechanical Engineering Technology/Technician 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $90,302
Engineering and Physics Technology 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $31,740 92%
Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering Technology 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $79,934
Nuclear Technology 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $67,843
Quality Control Technology/Technician 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $79,313
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $71,134