The desired education to pursue mechanical engineering is as follows:

To get into most mechanical engineering programs, a student is expected to have completed two years of high school algebra and one year of trigonometry. They should have also completed one year of both chemistry and physics.

You will at least need a bachelor’s degree from a university engineering program to qualify for a position as a mechanical engineer. The degree must be from a college or university accredited by the ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology).

It is possible to start at a community college and transfer to a 4-year college later. You can also join a co-op program where you will both attend classes and work in an engineering-related job. This allows you to graduate with valuable experience. Otherwise, you may include gain experience at a traditional internship during your college years.

If you are interested in gaining an advanced degree (i.e. a Master's or Ph.D) in Mechanical Engineering, you will need to take the GRE Test. The GRE is the admissions exam required by most graduate schools.