Mechanical engineering: graduate earnings, debt, and careers
Bachelor's programs in Mechanical Engineering (CIP 14.19).
Median earnings, 1 yr after
$76,194
Bachelor's degree Verified data
Median earnings, 4 yrs after
$92,135
Verified data
Typical program median debt
$22,346
federal loans Calculated estimate
Programs reporting
424
33,346 recent graduates Verified data
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 424 | 33,346 | $76,194 | $92,135 | $22,346 324 programs |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cal Poly Maritime Academy CA · Public · 34 graduates measured | $98,324 | $126,395 | $23,250 |
| University of California-Berkeley CA · Public · 104 graduates measured | $95,340 | $119,371 | $11,175 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology MA · Private, nonprofit · 79 graduates measured | $94,095 | $131,967 | $15,000 |
| Cornell University NY · Private, nonprofit · 75 graduates measured | $93,525 | $112,212 | $14,750 |
| Columbia University in the City of New York NY · Private, nonprofit · 30 graduates measured | $92,862 | $111,491 | $16,053 |
| Northwestern University IL · Private, nonprofit · 46 graduates measured | $92,622 | $98,277 | $13,263 |
| McNeese State University LA · Public · 35 graduates measured | $89,765 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Southern California CA · Private, nonprofit · 73 graduates measured | $89,664 | $104,649 | $20,750 |
| Carnegie Mellon University PA · Private, nonprofit · 76 graduates measured | $89,043 | $105,623 | $19,805 |
| Duke University NC · Private, nonprofit · 48 graduates measured | $88,721 | $120,991 | $13,250 |
| Northeastern University MA · Private, nonprofit · 247 graduates measured | $87,504 | $103,384 | $22,463 |
| The University of Texas at Austin TX · Public · 168 graduates measured | $87,333 | $104,523 | $18,319 |
| The University of Texas Permian Basin TX · Public · 43 graduates measured | $87,329 | Data unavailable | $16,500 |
| Tufts University MA · Private, nonprofit · 23 graduates measured | $87,011 | $101,196 | $18,500 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo CA · Public · 229 graduates measured | $86,929 | $106,750 | $17,778 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Mechanical Engineering
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and engineering managers | $171,270 | +5.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Cost estimators | $78,740 | -3.1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Aerospace engineers | $134,960 | +8.3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Mechanical engineers | $104,110 | +11.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Engineering teachers, postsecondary | $109,270 | +7.8% | Doctoral or professional degree |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (1)
- 14.1901 Mechanical Engineering
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