Mechanical Engineering: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 326 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff
+$201,991 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.
5.6 yrsModeled economic break-even
+78%Modeled 10-year ROI
$91,131Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$91,131Median reported earnings · year 4
$92,425Average reported earnings · year 5
$24,844Median federal debt
88thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
326Reporting programs
321With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $71,115
- Federal debt
- $15,848
- Reporting programs
- 6
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $91,131
- Federal debt
- $24,844
- Reporting programs
- 326
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $115,231
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 84
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $147,335
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $140,788
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$87,997National median$91,13175th percentile$95,341
321 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Massachusetts Institute of Technology$131,9672Cal Poly Maritime Academy$126,3953Santa Clara University$122,1114Duke University$120,9915University of California, Berkeley$119,3716Stanford University$117,0727Princeton University$115,9278University of Pennsylvania$114,4929Cornell University$112,21210Columbia University in the City of New York$111,491Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Aerospace EngineersSOC 17-2011 · 1 crosswalk linksArchitectural and Engineering ManagersSOC 11-9041 · 1 crosswalk linksCost EstimatorsSOC 13-1051 · 1 crosswalk linksEngineering Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1032 · 1 crosswalk linksMechanical EngineersSOC 17-2141 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Cambridge, MA | $131,967 | $11,334 | +234% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Cal Poly Maritime AcademyBachelor's Degree | Vallejo, CA | $126,395 | $19,690 | +210% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Santa Clara UniversityBachelor's Degree | Santa Clara, CA | $122,111 | $19,500 | +103% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Duke UniversityBachelor's Degree | Durham, NC | $120,991 | $10,000 | +155% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $119,371 | $13,200 | +218% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | Stanford UniversityBachelor's Degree | Stanford, CA | $117,072 | Not available | +206% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | Princeton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Princeton, NJ | $115,927 | Not available | +247% | Strong payoff |
| 8 | University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $114,492 | $12,455 | +136% | Strong payoff |
| 9 | Cornell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $112,212 | $15,500 | +128% | Strong payoff |
| 10 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $111,491 | $16,960 | +150% | Strong payoff |
| 11 | Johns Hopkins UniversityBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $110,210 | $10,750 | +155% | Strong payoff |
| 12 | Rice UniversityBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $108,970 | $15,375 | +174% | Strong payoff |
| 13 | University of California, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $108,875 | $17,000 | +177% | Strong payoff |
| 14 | SUNY Maritime CollegeBachelor's Degree | Throggs Neck, NY | $106,932 | $26,000 | +130% | Strong payoff |
| 15 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $106,750 | $20,500 | +150% | Strong payoff |
| 16 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $105,888 | $21,750 | +162% | Strong payoff |
| 17 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $105,623 | $22,777 | +97% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | California Baptist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Riverside, CA | $105,046 | $27,000 | +111% | Strong payoff |
| 19 | University of Detroit MercyBachelor's Degree | Detroit, MI | $104,683 | Not available | +148% | Strong payoff |
| 20 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $104,649 | $17,500 | +92% | Positive payoff |
| 21 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $104,523 | $18,750 | +129% | Strong payoff |
| 22 | University of California, Santa BarbaraBachelor's Degree | Santa Barbara, CA | $104,336 | $15,908 | +143% | Strong payoff |
| 23 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $104,229 | $20,000 | +158% | Strong payoff |
| 24 | Northeastern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $103,384 | $25,893 | +92% | Positive payoff |
| 25 | Vaughn College of Aeronautics and TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Flushing, NY | $103,254 | $27,000 | +71% | Positive payoff |
| 26 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $102,572 | $19,937 | +141% | Strong payoff |
| 27 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $102,161 | $15,000 | +139% | Strong payoff |
| 28 | San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $102,104 | $22,047 | +149% | Strong payoff |
| 29 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $102,078 | $15,000 | +141% | Strong payoff |
| 30 | University of Washington-Bothell CampusBachelor's Degree | Bothell, WA | $102,078 | $15,000 | +149% | Strong payoff |
| 31 | University of Washington-Tacoma CampusBachelor's Degree | Tacoma, WA | $102,078 | $15,000 | +159% | Strong payoff |
| 32 | Lafayette CollegeBachelor's Degree | Easton, PA | $101,348 | $19,500 | +77% | Positive payoff |
| 33 | Vanderbilt UniversityBachelor's Degree | Nashville, TN | $101,345 | $14,000 | +132% | Strong payoff |
| 34 | George Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $101,196 | $21,500 | +72% | Positive payoff |
| 35 | Tufts UniversityBachelor's Degree | Medford, MA | $101,196 | $16,500 | +65% | Positive payoff |
| 36 | Stevens Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Hoboken, NJ | $100,554 | $26,520 | +61% | Positive payoff |
| 37 | Lawrence Technological UniversityBachelor's Degree | Southfield, MI | $100,145 | $27,000 | +77% | Positive payoff |
| 38 | University of Maryland-College ParkBachelor's Degree | College Park, MD | $100,003 | $20,500 | +127% | Strong payoff |
| 39 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBachelor's Degree | Baton Rouge, LA | $99,975 | $18,500 | +114% | Strong payoff |
| 40 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $99,955 | $27,000 | +141% | Strong payoff |
| 41 | Bucknell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lewisburg, PA | $99,860 | $19,500 | +60% | Positive payoff |
| 42 | University of Notre DameBachelor's Degree | Notre Dame, IN | $99,859 | $19,000 | +91% | Positive payoff |
| 43 | University of the PacificBachelor's Degree | Stockton, CA | $99,573 | $28,596 | +94% | Positive payoff |
| 44 | Saint Louis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $99,331 | $25,665 | +96% | Positive payoff |
| 45 | Kettering UniversityBachelor's Degree | Flint, MI | $99,292 | $28,000 | +70% | Positive payoff |
| 46 | California State University, NorthridgeBachelor's Degree | Northridge, CA | $99,216 | $18,000 | +161% | Strong payoff |
| 47 | California State Polytechnic University-PomonaBachelor's Degree | Pomona, CA | $99,148 | $17,455 | +139% | Strong payoff |
| 48 | University of California, IrvineBachelor's Degree | Irvine, CA | $99,111 | $14,500 | +128% | Strong payoff |
| 49 | Northwestern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Evanston, IL | $98,277 | $15,334 | +80% | Positive payoff |
| 50 | New Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Socorro, NM | $98,213 | $19,500 | +142% | Strong payoff |
| 51 | University of Alaska AnchorageBachelor's Degree | Anchorage, AK | $98,156 | $13,876 | +120% | Strong payoff |
| 52 | Texas Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $98,113 | $25,396 | +107% | Strong payoff |
| 53 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $97,946 | $24,000 | +105% | Strong payoff |
| 54 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $97,903 | $19,500 | +99% | Positive payoff |
| 55 | University of Nevada-Las VegasBachelor's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $97,901 | $20,500 | +139% | Strong payoff |
| 56 | San Diego State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $97,825 | $19,994 | +119% | Strong payoff |
| 57 | Villanova UniversityBachelor's Degree | Villanova, PA | $97,556 | $25,995 | +48% | Positive payoff |
| 58 | Oakland UniversityBachelor's Degree | Rochester Hills, MI | $97,444 | $25,000 | +142% | Strong payoff |
| 59 | Worcester Polytechnic InstituteBachelor's Degree | Worcester, MA | $97,308 | $27,000 | +48% | Positive payoff |
| 60 | CUNY City CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $97,270 | $13,232 | +168% | Strong payoff |
| 61 | Lamar UniversityBachelor's Degree | Beaumont, TX | $97,159 | $29,000 | +140% | Strong payoff |
| 62 | Wentworth Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $97,124 | $27,000 | +65% | Positive payoff |
| 63 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $97,113 | $18,131 | +153% | Strong payoff |
| 64 | University of Florida-OnlineBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $97,113 | $18,131 | +162% | Strong payoff |
| 65 | Colorado School of MinesBachelor's Degree | Golden, CO | $97,087 | $25,000 | +77% | Positive payoff |
| 66 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstBachelor's Degree | Amherst, MA | $96,999 | $27,000 | +93% | Positive payoff |
| 67 | Lehigh UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bethlehem, PA | $96,618 | $24,950 | +58% | Positive payoff |
| 68 | George Mason UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairfax, VA | $96,467 | $25,000 | +105% | Strong payoff |
| 69 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $96,418 | $20,500 | +106% | Strong payoff |
| 70 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $96,376 | $23,000 | +84% | Positive payoff |
| 71 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottBachelor's Degree | Prescott, AZ | $96,331 | $27,000 | +50% | Positive payoff |
| 72 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachBachelor's Degree | Daytona Beach, FL | $96,331 | $27,000 | +49% | Positive payoff |
| 73 | Loyola Marymount UniversityBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $96,226 | $21,000 | +37% | Positive payoff |
| 74 | Seattle UniversityBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $96,218 | $20,467 | +61% | Positive payoff |
| 75 | Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Terre Haute, IN | $95,983 | $25,612 | +46% | Positive payoff |
| 76 | Washington University in St LouisBachelor's Degree | St. Louis, MO | $95,965 | $19,000 | +91% | Positive payoff |
| 77 | California State University, Long BeachBachelor's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $95,957 | $17,653 | +130% | Strong payoff |
| 78 | Bradley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Peoria, IL | $95,896 | $27,000 | +88% | Positive payoff |
| 79 | Boston UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $95,757 | $26,400 | +83% | Positive payoff |
| 80 | Oregon Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Klamath Falls, OR | $95,470 | $26,258 | +108% | Strong payoff |
| 81 | University of Alabama in HuntsvilleBachelor's Degree | Huntsville, AL | $95,341 | $24,897 | +97% | Positive payoff |
| 82 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $95,329 | $20,500 | +112% | Strong payoff |
| 83 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonBachelor's Degree | Madison, WI | $95,114 | $20,500 | +101% | Strong payoff |
| 84 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $95,090 | $20,500 | +109% | Strong payoff |
| 85 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $95,090 | $20,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 86 | The University of AlabamaBachelor's Degree | Tuscaloosa, AL | $95,079 | $24,755 | +86% | Positive payoff |
| 87 | University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $95,078 | $21,500 | +104% | Strong payoff |
| 88 | University of RochesterBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $95,060 | $21,000 | +68% | Positive payoff |
| 89 | University of California, MercedBachelor's Degree | Merced, CA | $95,040 | $18,500 | +120% | Strong payoff |
| 90 | University of New Mexico-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $94,990 | $17,014 | +107% | Strong payoff |
| 91 | University of Michigan-DearbornBachelor's Degree | Dearborn, MI | $94,919 | $23,950 | +129% | Strong payoff |
| 92 | University of Virginia-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Charlottesville, VA | $94,881 | $24,250 | +87% | Positive payoff |
| 93 | Wayne State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Detroit, MI | $94,869 | $24,140 | +116% | Strong payoff |
| 94 | University of Massachusetts-LowellBachelor's Degree | Lowell, MA | $94,841 | $27,000 | +100% | Strong payoff |
| 95 | Hofstra UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hempstead, NY | $94,744 | $22,500 | +57% | Positive payoff |
| 96 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, MO | $94,629 | $22,250 | +90% | Positive payoff |
| 97 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $94,561 | $23,250 | +79% | Positive payoff |
| 98 | Central Connecticut State UniversityBachelor's Degree | New Britain, CT | $94,462 | $22,534 | +100% | Positive payoff |
| 99 | Roger Williams UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bristol, RI | $94,385 | $27,000 | +49% | Positive payoff |
| 100 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $94,320 | $30,907 | +117% | Strong payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.