Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 63 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff
+$115,864 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.
6.8 yrsModeled economic break-even
+46%Modeled 10-year ROI
$81,765Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$81,765Median reported earnings · year 4
$79,999Average reported earnings · year 5
$27,000Median federal debt
77thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
63Reporting programs
61With 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
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,798
- Federal debt
- $11,250
- Reporting programs
- 12
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $66,606
- Federal debt
- $16,944
- Reporting programs
- 42
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $81,765
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 63
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $114,566
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
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$79,299National median$81,76575th percentile$86,472
61 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Cal Poly Maritime Academy$126,2092University of Massachusetts-Lowell$120,2193Metropolitan State University of Denver$98,2674Wayne State University$97,2575Farmingdale State College$91,9416University of Maine$91,8797California State Polytechnic University-Pomona$91,2308Central Connecticut State University$90,4729Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology$90,26310Art Center College of Design$90,188Observed 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.
Mechanical DraftersSOC 17-3013 · 3 crosswalk linksMechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansSOC 17-3027 · 3 crosswalk linksAutomotive Service Technicians and MechanicsSOC 49-3023 · 2 crosswalk linksEngineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherSOC 17-3029 · 2 crosswalk linksAerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and TechniciansSOC 17-3021 · 1 crosswalk linksElectro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and TechniciansSOC 17-3024 · 1 crosswalk linksMotorboat Mechanics and Service TechniciansSOC 49-3051 · 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 | Cal Poly Maritime AcademyBachelor's Degree | Vallejo, CA | $126,209 | $25,359 | +210% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | University of Massachusetts-LowellBachelor's Degree | Lowell, MA | $120,219 | Not available | +203% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Metropolitan State University of DenverBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $98,267 | $32,000 | +121% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Wayne State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Detroit, MI | $97,257 | Not available | +126% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Farmingdale State CollegeBachelor's Degree | Farmingdale, NY | $91,941 | $17,409 | +110% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | University of MaineBachelor's Degree | Orono, ME | $91,879 | $27,000 | +87% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | California State Polytechnic University-PomonaBachelor's Degree | Pomona, CA | $91,230 | $24,354 | +104% | Strong payoff |
| 8 | Central Connecticut State UniversityBachelor's Degree | New Britain, CT | $90,472 | $31,000 | +84% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Spartan College of Aeronautics and TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Tulsa, OK | $90,263 | Not available | +51% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | Art Center College of DesignBachelor's Degree | Pasadena, CA | $90,188 | $54,124 | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | American Public University SystemBachelor's Degree | Charles Town, WV | $89,871 | $30,810 | +105% | Strong payoff |
| 12 | Western New England UniversityBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MA | $89,642 | $27,000 | +54% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | New England Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | East Greenwich, RI | $88,991 | $31,000 | +35% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | Oregon Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Klamath Falls, OR | $88,036 | Not available | +77% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $86,891 | $20,500 | +76% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | Central Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mount Pleasant, MI | $86,472 | $30,000 | +66% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | Youngstown State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Youngstown, OH | $86,361 | $35,947 | +79% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | Rochester Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $86,226 | $29,000 | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Indiana University-IndianapolisBachelor's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $85,533 | $25,319 | +79% | Positive payoff |
| 20 | Purdue University NorthwestBachelor's Degree | Hammond, IN | $85,242 | $25,000 | +97% | Positive payoff |
| 21 | Vaughn College of Aeronautics and TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Flushing, NY | $85,222 | $27,250 | +18% | Positive payoff |
| 22 | Brigham Young University-IdahoBachelor's Degree | Rexburg, ID | $84,896 | $16,214 | +87% | Positive payoff |
| 23 | Central Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ellensburg, WA | $84,871 | $22,380 | +57% | Positive payoff |
| 24 | University of HoustonBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $84,692 | $27,000 | +67% | Positive payoff |
| 25 | University of ToledoBachelor's Degree | Toledo, OH | $83,465 | $26,875 | +54% | Positive payoff |
| 26 | Michigan Technological UniversityBachelor's Degree | Houghton, MI | $83,394 | $29,875 | +62% | Positive payoff |
| 27 | LeTourneau UniversityBachelor's Degree | Longview, TX | $83,158 | Not available | +30% | Positive payoff |
| 28 | Kennesaw State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kennesaw, GA | $83,083 | $25,500 | +59% | Positive payoff |
| 29 | Ferris State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Big Rapids, MI | $82,821 | $27,000 | +76% | Positive payoff |
| 30 | Northern Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Marquette, MI | $82,326 | Not available | +58% | Positive payoff |
| 31 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Durham, NH | $81,765 | Not available | +34% | Positive payoff |
| 32 | University of New Hampshire at ManchesterBachelor's Degree | Manchester, NH | $81,765 | Not available | +67% | Positive payoff |
| 33 | Purdue University Fort WayneBachelor's Degree | Fort Wayne, IN | $81,259 | $27,000 | +56% | Positive payoff |
| 34 | Virginia State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Petersburg, VA | $80,902 | $27,500 | +48% | Positive payoff |
| 35 | University of Akron Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Akron, OH | $80,611 | $24,749 | +51% | Positive payoff |
| 36 | Minnesota State University-MankatoBachelor's Degree | Mankato, MN | $80,482 | $27,000 | +38% | Positive payoff |
| 37 | University of DaytonBachelor's Degree | Dayton, OH | $80,475 | $27,000 | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 38 | SUNY College of Technology at AlfredBachelor's Degree | Alfred, NY | $80,450 | $27,000 | +48% | Positive payoff |
| 39 | University of North TexasBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $80,138 | $24,240 | +45% | Positive payoff |
| 40 | Montana State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bozeman, MT | $80,089 | $27,500 | +30% | Positive payoff |
| 41 | Eastern Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ypsilanti, MI | $79,829 | $28,909 | +44% | Positive payoff |
| 42 | Indiana State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Terre Haute, IN | $79,527 | $26,990 | +54% | Positive payoff |
| 43 | Weber State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ogden, UT | $79,471 | $18,280 | +56% | Positive payoff |
| 44 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegeBachelor's Degree | Erie, PA | $79,342 | $27,334 | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 45 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $79,342 | $27,334 | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 46 | Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleBachelor's Degree | Carbondale, IL | $79,299 | $19,187 | +47% | Positive payoff |
| 47 | University of North Carolina at CharlotteBachelor's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $78,160 | $27,000 | +37% | Positive payoff |
| 48 | Tarleton State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Stephenville, TX | $77,044 | $21,000 | +22% | Positive payoff |
| 49 | Eastern Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cheney, WA | $76,693 | Not available | +35% | Positive payoff |
| 50 | SUNY Polytechnic InstituteBachelor's Degree | Utica, NY | $76,413 | $22,108 | +33% | Positive payoff |
| 51 | Oklahoma State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Stillwater, OK | $76,400 | $23,302 | +26% | Positive payoff |
| 52 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $75,897 | Not available | +2% | Positive payoff |
| 53 | Fairmont State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairmont, WV | $75,569 | $25,000 | +41% | Positive payoff |
| 54 | Pittsburg State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburg, KS | $74,878 | $25,000 | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 55 | CUNY New York City College of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $73,336 | $11,652 | +41% | Positive payoff |
| 56 | SUNY Buffalo State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $73,327 | $24,436 | +26% | Positive payoff |
| 57 | Colorado Mesa UniversityBachelor's Degree | Grand Junction, CO | $72,815 | Not available | +16% | Positive payoff |
| 58 | Pennsylvania College of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Williamsport, PA | $69,714 | $27,000 | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | South Carolina State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orangeburg, SC | $63,129 | Not available | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Colorado State University PuebloBachelor's Degree | Pueblo, CO | $53,940 | Not available | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | McPherson CollegeBachelor's Degree | McPherson, KS | $52,781 | $27,000 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | SUNY College of Technology at CantonBachelor's Degree | Canton, NY | Not available | $24,377 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $15,268 |
| 63 | Texas A&M University-Corpus ChristiBachelor's Degree | Corpus Christi, TX | Not available | $28,406 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $15,225 |
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.