Mechanical Engineering (B.S.)
Prepare to excel in a field that is an essential part of most industries and modern technologies in our bachelor in mechanical engineering program.
Jump into Learning System Design and Development with Illinois Tech’s B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
Customize your professional engineering learning experience with Illinois Tech’s B.S. in Mechanical Engineering by exploring a range of technical electives including automotive innovation, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing. With an emphasis on design and computation and ample opportunities for real-world, hands-on experiences, you’ll be prepared to enter the workforce with confidence. As an added bonus, our small class sizes and Armour Academy offer you personalized support and mentorship throughout your journey.
Program Overview
Kickstart your mechanical engineering career by integrating rigorous academics with hands-on experiences in our B.S. in Mechanical Engineering program. From learning foundational principles to developing skills in advanced design and computational mechanics, you’ll gain the expertise needed to tackle engineering challenges and bring innovative ideas to life. You’ll take part in collaborative projects, industry engagement, and practical applications, preparing you to excel in dynamic fields such as aerospace, automotive, environmental engineering, and robotics.
Career Opportunities
Our B.S. in Mechanical Engineering degree provides diverse career opportunities, preparing you for success in a range of jobs including:
- Electromechanical Engineer
- Rail Systems Engineer
- Sustainable Production Engineer
MMAE 232 Design for Innovation: Learn the fundamentals of mechanical system design, including whole-system design and lifecycle thinking. Design and build projects focused on sustainable techniques, bio-inspired locomotion, and mechatronics with a team of your fellow students. You'll learn technical skills such as isometric sketching, engineering drawings, computer-aided design, lightweighting, technical writing, mechanism and linkage design, and engineering law.
MMAE 319 and 419 Mechanical Laboratory I and II: You’ll learn research skills and experiment design in these labs, helping you to gain proficiency in digital data acquisition and statistical data analysis. Projects include measurements of pressure, temperature, flow rate, heat transfer, static forces and moments, tension, torsion, bending, hardness, fracture toughness, fatigue, and more.
MMAE 445 Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing: Explore the principles of blueprints, geometric and dimensional tolerancing, parametric modeling (curve, surface, solid, mesh), mechanical assemblies, finite element analysis studies, and design optimization using computer-aided design software. You’ll learn the applications of numerical controller programming (G-Code), toolpath generation, and machine simulation using computer-aided manufacturing software.
Admission to all undergraduate programs at Illinois Tech is evaluated via a holistic approach that takes various factors under consideration, including your high school performance and essays. Your choice of major will impact this process as well, because each major has its own criteria for admission.
To learn more about our admission selection process, recommended high school coursework, and our admitted student profile, please visit our admission website.
Tuition and Fees
Learn more about the university’s general tuition and fees, visit the Student Accounting website.
To get a more in-depth idea of the tuition and fees for the bachelor in mechanical engineering program, you can utilize the net price calculator tool.
Featured Faculty
John C. Cesarone
Carrie M. Hall
Baisravan HomChaudhuri
Aleksandar G. Ostrogorsky
Nelson Rosa
Francisco Ruiz
Sayed M. Saghaian
Matthew Spenko
Ankit Srivastava
Murat Vural
Abrar says...
"Illinois Tech is a unique kind of university, standing out even among other small schools. The rigorous curriculum and ample undergraduate research opportunities, such as working directly with professors and participating in competitions, provide invaluable hands-on experience. The small-school atmosphere fosters deep friendships and strong mentorship from faculty."
Abrar Rafi (ME, M.S. ASAR ’25)
As a 2024 Brooke Owens Fellow, Naia Lum will be an intern at Draper Laboratory.
Naia Lum (ME, M.S. ASAR 4th Year)
Seth Graham’s NASA internship helped land him a job at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.
Seth Graham (ME/M.Eng. MAE ’22)
Through Armour College of Engineering’s R&D Program, Maddy Urig was able to partner with a professor on a wind turbine R&D project, discovering her passion for innovation in renewable energy.
Maddy Urig (ME 4th Year)
Abrar Rafi thrives in Illinois Tech’s supportive environment.
Abrar Rafi (ME, M.S. ASAR 4th Year)
Illinois Tech has provided Sydney Kaplan with research opportunities that have ignited her passion for conservation technology. She applies robotics to solve complex, unique engineering problems experienced by tree scientists.
Sydney Kaplan (ME/M.Eng. MAE 4th Year)
When Dane Christianson found out about Illinois Tech’s maker space, the Idea Shop, he was blown away. He also utilized it to launch a career as an entrepreneur.
Dane Christianson (ME ’15)Get In Touch
To learn more about the program, please reach out to Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering at mmae@illinoistech.edu.