MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA: Top Universities, Colleges & Fees

USA has lot of opportunities for students for studying mechanical engineering degrees. Mechanical engineering degree is diverse and challenging field. It involves study of design, manufacturing, and operation of machines and mechanical systems. The duration of a MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA is 18 months to 24 months. The degree is designed for solving problems in various sectors such as aerospace, automotive, biomedical engineering, construction equipment, energy production and transmission, food processing equipment and packaging machinery. 

Why Study MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA? 

The USA has many opportunities for Engineering students. MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA program has a vast research component which gives the students valuable hands-on research experience. Research themes within this department are biomechanics, energy systems, manufacturing, mechanics, robotics, controls and sensing. Below are top reasons why US could be a dream destination for students- 

1. Top Universities- USA has many leading top universities which offer MS in Mechanical Engineering which is approximately 200+.
2. High Salaries- USA is known for offering high salaries to Mechanical Engineering graduates which range from USD 150,000 – USD 200,000 (INR 1.33 Cr - INR 1.78 Cr).
3. OPT system- USA is known to provide its Mechanical Engineering students 3 years Optional Practical Training (OPT) period to work in USA.
4. No #1 globally: USA is considered #1 choice in world for studying MS in Mechanical Engineering. 

MS in Mechanical Engineering in the USA Highlights

There are few top specializations in Mechanical Engineering that students choose such as Robotics, Automotive/EV, etc. Fees range between USD 20,000 - USD 60,000 (INR 17.82 L - INR 53.46 L) every year. This course has very high ROI in various fields such as Heavy Manufacturing, Fluid mechanics, etc. Table mentioned below shows information about MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA- 

Top Universities for Mechanical Engineering in USA 

There is a high demand for MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA due to the country being home to some of the world's top colleges for the course. According to QS World University Rankings, USA is home to 6 top universities out of top 20 universities in the world which offer Mechanical Engineering. Metrics on which universities are ranked are Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, Faculty/Student Ratio, Citations per faculty and International Faculty Ratio.  

Top 20 MS in Mechanical Engineering Colleges in USA 

The list of top 10 MS in Mechanical Engineering colleges in USA according to THE World University Rankings 2025 and Shiksha Popularity Ranking for Mechanical Engineering are - 

MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA Eligibility 

It is important for Indian students to be eligible in all the admission criteria requires by the universities in USA. Each university in USA might have different eligibility criteria for MS in Mechanical Engineering. Below mentioned are some common eligibility criteria that students must fall under to get admission in MS in Mechanical Engineering.  

• Undergraduate Degree- UG Degree should be in a relevant field. International students are expected to have minimum of 60% - 85% in their bachelor's to get admitted to any good university in USA. 

• CGPA- Minimum CGPA of 3.0 out of 4 is required. Some universities like MIT, Stanford, Georgia Institute of Technology may ask for higher CGPA. 

• English Language Requirement- Language proficiency tests like IELTS or TOEFL are mandatory for MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA. USA universities accept minimum score of 6.5 - 7.0 in IELTS or about 80-100 in TOEFL. 

MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA Requirements for International Students   

To get into the universities in USA for MS in Mechanical Engineering, students are required to submit some documents. These documents give proof of your identity and education to universities. The general admission requirements for MS in Mechanical Engineering courses in USA are given as follows: 

• UG Degree 

• Academic Transcripts 

• 2-3 LORs 

• SOP 

• CV 

• Extracurricular certificates 

• Work experience letters 

• Passport size photos 

• English Test Scores 

MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA Cost   

The cost of MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA can vary from school to school. The average tuition can cost around USD 20,000 - USD 60,000 (INR 17.82 L - INR 53.46 L) per year. Many schools offer full scholarships for their Mechanical Engineering program. This is generally reserved for students who have high GPA and strong test scores. Some schools offer partial scholarships to those who show financial needs. Along with tuition fees you also need to consider living expenses which can be approximately USD 20,000 (INR 17.82 L) per year.  

Living Expenses 

Cost of living in USA depends on the city in which a student lives for studies. Some cities such as Texas, Arizona, etc. are cheaper than California, New York, etc. which are a bit expensive for Indian Students. Average cost of living for Indian students can range from USD 1,000 – USD 2,800 (INR 89.1 K – INR 2.49 L) per month. 

Table given below specifies estimated student cost of living in USA per month based on different expenses- 

Expenses in USA	Monthly cost
Accommodation	USD 600 – USD 2,000 (INR 53.4 K – INR 1.78 L)
Food & Groceries	USD 250 - USD 450 (INR 22.2 K - INR 40 K)
Transportation	USD 40 - USD 120 (INR 3.5 K – INR 10.6 K)
Health Insurance	USD 70 - USD 200 (INR 6.2 K - INR 17.8 K)
Utilities	USD 60 - USD 120 (INR 5.3 K – INR 10.6 K)
Personal Expenses	USD 50 - USD 150 (INR 4.4 K – INR 13.3 K)

MS in Mechanical Engineering Scholarships in the USA  

The list of scholarships for international students pursuing Mechanical Engineering is long and varied but some stand out.  

Some of these scholarships for international students are mentioned below-  

• Society of Women Engineers Scholarship- provides USD 1,000 (INR 89.1 K) annually for female students with minimum 3.0 GPA majoring in mechanical engineering and who show financial need. 

• American Society of Mechanical Engineers- provide scholarships amount starting from USD 3,000 (INR 2.67 L). 

• Association of Energy Engineers - provide awards ranging from USD 1,000 – USD 5,000 (INR 89.1 K – INR 4.45 L). 

MS in Mechanical Engineering Jobs and Salaries in the USA 

Mechanical engineers are in high demand in the US and around world. The job market is booming and salaries are on rise. The average annual salary for Mechanical Engineer in US is USD 150,000 – USD 200,000 (INR 1.33 Cr - INR 1.78 Cr). Following are some of most popular jobs for mechanical engineers -

• Manufacturing Engineer
• Mechanical Design Engineer
• Aerospace Engineer
• Automotive Engineer

The mechanical engineering program is multidisciplinary program that prepares students to be leaders in design and development of mechanical systems. The top recruiters for MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA are-

• General Motors
• Boeing
• Ford Motor Company
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Northrop Grumman Corporation
• General Electric Company

Kanishka Gambhir11-25-2025 11:41