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Columbia, SC · Mechanical engineering

Mechanical engineering at University of South Carolina

University of South Carolina graduates about 166 mechanical engineering majors a year, 3% of its graduating class. That puts it 145th of 332 schools we score for mechanical engineering, a solid program at 57 out of 100. Its current catalog lists 29 undergraduate courses in the field, more than 28% of the schools we've counted. Graduates in the major earn a median $91,000 four years out, about the national figure for the same major. Research spending in the field runs about $20 million a year, a rough guide to how many labs and projects undergraduates can join.

57/100Solid#145 of 332 for mechanical engineering →
Graduates a year1663% of the class
Courses in the catalog29more than 28% of schools
Median pay 4 years out$91,0000.99× the same major nationally
Research in the field$20Ma year, NSF
Admit rate60%whole school
SAT middle 50%1180–1380whole school

Around University of South Carolina

Flowers in front of the main research library at the University of South Carolin
Thomas Cooper Library, University of South Carolina, Reflecting Pond in Spring 0Photo: Runner1928 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Attendees at the University of South Carolina tour stop of the "American Comebac
Spring American Comeback Tour 2025 453Photo: Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
University of South Carolina
Melton Memorial Observatory, University of South Carolina, Greene Street, ColumbPhoto: w_lemay · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Built in 1909, this Classical Revival-style building was designed by Charles C.
Davis College, University of South Carolina, Greene Street, Columbia, SC - 53397Photo: w_lemay · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source

Where mechanical engineering happens

Buildings on campus that fit the field: Biomedical Engineering Building, Engineering Technical Fabrication Facility, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, Swearingen Engineering Center, M. Bert Storey Engineering and Innovation Center, Science & Technology Building.

Named buildings on the campus map: Academic 100 · Dorm 62 · Athletics 8 · Student housing 4 · Library 4 · Offices 4.

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Nearby in the mechanical engineering ranking

  1. University of Toledo 58
  2. University of Nevada–Las Vegas 58
  3. University of Massachusetts–Dartmouth 58
  4. Seattle University 58
  5. University of Michigan–Dearborn 57
  6. University of Tennessee–Knoxville 57
  7. Virginia Commonwealth University 57
  8. George Mason University 57

Other strong majors at University of South Carolina

How the score works

The score is out of 100 and compares University of South Carolina with every school we score in mechanical engineering. It weighs the school's overall strength; how many students graduate in the major and what share of the class they are; research spending in the field (NSF); early pay against the same major nationally; how many courses the catalog lists; and test scores. 80+ is a standout program, 65+ strong, 45+ solid. Sources: US Department of Education (College Scorecard, IPEDS), NSF HERD, each school's current course catalog, OpenStreetMap and Wikimedia Commons.

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