Mechanical Engineering is the most diverse engineering degree program offered by the college. The problem-solving versatility of mechanical engineers means you’ll enjoy tremendous career flexibility. With a foundation in physics, chemistry, and mathematics and a mastery of mechanical and fluid/thermal systems, you can find a future in research, manufacturing, health care, energy, systems design, the military, and more. A mechanical engineering degree is also an advantage for some careers in business, law, or technical sales!
Why Penn State Behrend?
At Behrend, you won’t just learn in state-of-the-art facilities—you’ll also get hands-on experience conducting research with our award-winning faculty in a School of Engineering regularly ranked among the nation’s top 50 undergraduate engineering programs by U.S. News & World Report. Small class sizes and a faculty open-door policy mean that when you need help, you’ll get it.
You’ll also extend your learning beyond the lecture hall, with opportunities to apply engineering concepts to personalized projects, help solve a real-world industry problem, and be recruited by companies around the world.
What Will I Study in Mechanical Engineering?
You’ll learn how to use scientific and engineering methods to design, build, and test useful products that are safe, reliable, and cost-effective. Your studies will cover fundamentals in mathematics, mechanics, and thermodynamics, then progress to course work in machine design, fluids and heat transfer, biomechanics, and system dynamics. You’ll learn to apply scientific principles, engineering analysis, and engineering design to solve problems.
To see the full Mechanical Engineering curriculum, visit the Undergraduate Bulletin.
Who Hires Mechanical Engineering Majors?
Our Mechanical Engineering graduates are in demand. Consider this: Nearly 120 companies come to campus each year specifically to recruit our Mechanical Engineering students. Recent graduates have found employment with companies including Amazon, Boeing, Ford, John Deere, NASA, SpaceX, Volvo, and Westinghouse.
Typical entry-level positions include design, test, sales, structural, manufacturing, application, R&D, or applied mechanics engineers.
More to Love
With careful planning, you can boost your degree and complete a minor or certificate within your four years of study. Popular options among Mechanical Engineering students are minors in Technical Sales, Operations and Supply Chain Management, Mathematics, or Physics.
Mechanical Engineering Program Educational Objectives
The educational objectives of the Penn State Behrend Mechanical Engineering Program are to produce graduates who, within three years of graduation, are able to:
- Be employed as a practicing engineer in fields such as design, research, development, testing, manufacturing, operations, and service systems;
- Assume positions of leadership and responsibility within an organization; and
- Progress through advanced degree or certificate programs in engineering, business, and other professionally related fields.
Mechanical Engineering Outcomes
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
- An ability to work professionally in both thermal and mechanical systems areas.
According to ABET, “Program Educational Objectives are broad statements that describe the career and professional accomplishments that the program is preparing graduate to achieve. Student Outcomes are narrower statements that describe what students are to know and be able to do by the time of graduation.”
The Program Educational Objectives were established through the input from employers of our students, alumni, and industrial constitutes of the program. The achievement of Program Educational Objectives is assessed through the use of alumni and employer surveys, as well as employer focus groups. The Student Outcomes are assessed using a combination of the following instruments:
- Direct assessment of Student work. Each year faculty members in the program assess graded examples of student work to determine the level of achievement. The examples of student work are linked directly the Student Outcomes.
- Senior Exit Surveys. This assessment survey is completed by all graduating seniors in which they are asked to rate how well the Student Outcomes were achieved.
- Internship Employer Surveys. This assessment survey is completed by supervisors of students who receive internship credit. Employers are asked to rate how well the Student Outcomes were achieved.
- Senior Design Industrial Sponsor Surveys. This assessment survey is completed by supervisors of senior design projects to measure how well the outcomes of the senior design experience were achieved.
- Fundamentals of Engineering Exam reports from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. This nationally administered exam provides a national benchmark for assessing achievement of the Student Outcomes.
The Student Outcomes are assessed annually and each academic program employs at least three of the measurement tools above. More detailed information for each program is available upon request.
Penn State Behrend Tuition
How much does it cost to attend?
In State Pennsylvania Resident Sticker Price
$33,718
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $14,214 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,840 |
| Other Fees | $992 |
| Room and Board | $11,884 |
| Other Expenses Budget | $4,788 |
Out of State Resident Sticker Price
$43,428
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $23,924 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,840 |
| Other Fees | $992 |
| Room and Board | $11,884 |
| Other Expenses Budget | $4,788 |
Residents of Pennsylvania pay an annual total price of $33,718 to attend Penn State Erie Behrend College on a full time basis. This fee is comprised of $14,214 for tuition, $11,884 room and board, $1,840 for books and supplies and $992 for other fees.
Out of state residents are charged a total cost of $43,428 which is 28.8% higher than Pennsylvania residents. The tuition charge is $23,924 while room and board is $11,884, books and supplies are $1,840 and other fees come in at $992.All price data is sourced from the 2019/2020 U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics survey.
Will you get accepted?
Find out how likely you are to get accepted at Penn State Erie-Behrend College based on your GPA, test scores, and even extracurricular activities. Then, get custom recommendations for how to improve your odds – completely for free.CALCULATE MY CHANCES
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Net Price
Net price is indicative of what it actually costs to attend Penn State Erie Behrend College when typical grants and scholarships are considered. The net price varies by family income and financial need.
Average Net Price 2018/2019
Not Available
| Family Income | Net Price Paid |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $0 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | n/a |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | n/a |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | n/a |
| $110,000+ | n/a |
The average reported annual net price for Penn State Erie Behrend College for students receiving grants or scholarship aid was $0 in 2018/2019. Net price includes tuition and required fees, books and supplies, and average cost for room and board and other expenses
Financial Aid
0% of full-time undergrad Penn State Erie Behrend College received financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, fellowships from the institution or from Federal, State or local government agencies. This aid averaged $0 per student during the 2019/2020 school year. Grant and scholarship aid does not need to be paid back. 0% of students received Federal Student Loans averaging $0.
| Type | Avg./Student | Students Receiving |
|---|---|---|
| Total Grant and Scholarship Aid | $0 | 0% |
| Institutional Grants and Scholarships | $0 | 0% |
| Pell Grants | $0 | 0% |
| Other Federal Grants | $0 | 0% |
| State and Local Grants | $0 | 0% |
| Federal Student Loans | $0 | 0% |
| Other Student Loans | $0 | 0% |
Student Loans
To gauge a more realistic picture of what it may really cost you out of pocket to go to Penn State Erie Behrend College, we’ve modeled a ten year student loan with an original principal value of $81,260. The loan balance of $81,260 is a four year multiple of the $20,315 average net price. This is a estimate of what you could owe upon graduation if you were to qualify for average financial aid and what a degree really may cost. Should you not qualify for financial aid, you may owe significantly more when you graduate. Based on these assumptions, a monthly repayment of $775 could be required to satisfy your student loan.
Please note that financial aid is not guaranteed and is only available for qualifying students. Federal Student Loans are not grants and must be repaid with interest. The current Stafford loan interest rate is 2.75%.
| Example Loan | $81,260 |
| Stafford Loan Interest Rate | 2.75% |
| Time to Pay Off Student Loan | 10 years |
| Example Monthly Payment | $775.31 |
| Total Interest Paid | $11,777.20 |
| Sum of All Loan Payments | $93,037.20 |
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