March 10, 2025
More than gears: Innovative technologies for the world
All engineers solve problems. Mechanical engineers get to pick the most interesting problems, because we consider our field to be the most wide-ranging, versatile and flexible. By choosing mechanical engineering, you’ll be learning how natural elements in our world work, like heat and cold; fluids, solids and gases; metals, plastics and even human tissue—and how to control the stresses, motions and designs of those elements.
At a glance
Mechanical engineering department
US Dollars31MMillion
average annual research funding
14
undergraduate ranking among public universities
9
graduate ranking among public universities
View open positions for Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering news
New mechatronics course prepares students for high-demand engineering jobs
Mechatronics—integrating mechanical systems with electronics and software—is essential to a growing number of products and systems, including cellphones, vehicles and robots. “There is a significant demand for engineers with mechatronics…
“I am the engineer I am today thanks to my involvement in the UW Society of Women Engineers’ Boeing Tech Team. Working alongside other minorities in engineering has been one of the most encouraging and rewarding experiences I have had at UW-Madison. By joining an engineering org, I have gained leadership skills, applied engineering knowledge, and most importantly met my closest friends. The women in the UW Mechanical Engineering Department have created a supportive culture that has greatly contributed to my engineering success, and for that, I am truly grateful.”
BSME’25, Faustin-Prinz Undergraduate Research Fellow, Women+ in Mechanical Engineering Mentor
Meet the faculty
Noted both for outstanding teaching and groundbreaking research, our distinguished faculty regularly earn awards from national and international organizations.