McPHERSON, Kan. — The Higher Learning Commission recently approved McPherson College to offer a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering starting in August 2026. The new degree further diversifies the college’s academic offerings and advances its position as a practical, future-oriented, and innovative campus.
The mechanical engineering degree builds on the college’s historic academic strengths in Automotive Restoration, Natural Sciences, and Mathematics while considering the local and regional economy.
“Developing this new academic program helps meet the specific needs of our local economy and expand our reach to meet labor needs in the broader automotive industry,” said McPherson College President Michael Schneider. “McPherson College will provide an academic program that many college-bound students seek, leveraging our strengths in math, science, and automotive restoration technology. And, it will engage area industries to offer students hands-on experiences.”
According to Amanda Gutierrez, vice president for automotive restoration, mechanical engineering comes after a national study to explore how McPherson College can build on the success of automotive restoration.
“In fall 2023, McPherson College contracted with the Center of Automotive Research (CAR), an internationally recognized, independent organization based in Detroit that researches significant issues related to the future of global mobility,” said Gutierrez. “The purpose of the study was to explore the viability of McPherson College starting an engineering program.”
After careful market analysis, CAR recommended that McPherson College leverage its strength in Automotive Restoration to develop comprehensive engineering and computer science programs, including foundational tracks like mechanical and electrical engineering. Building on the success of the automotive restoration program’s experiential learning model, the new engineering program will include industry-informed labs and ample co-op and internship opportunities.
Department of Labor statistics show that mechanical engineering is an in-demand job field with the number of open positions projected to grow by 10% annually. There are career opportunities in many fields, including agriculture, energy, transportation, and automation.
“This means that demand is going to continue to grow for mechanical engineers and our graduates will have a tremendous opportunity to begin their careers in a variety of fields,” Gutierrez said.
About McPherson College
McPherson College’s mission is to “develop whole persons through scholarship, participation, and service” within a career-focused liberal arts environment. In 2023, the college secured an unprecedented $1B commitment to its endowment, marking one of the largest single endowment commitments of any small liberal arts college in the U.S. Nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report, Money Magazine, and the Chronicle of Higher Education’s “Great Colleges to Work For,” McPherson College is renowned for its innovative programs. Its Automotive Restoration program, the first four-year degree program of its kind, made history when a student-restored Mercedes-Benz 300 S earned a class award at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance – the first time a student-restored car received such an honor at the prestigious Concours. Learn about all of its programs at www.mcpherson.edu.
