Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Mechanical Engineering bachelor's degree outcomes at Harding University

Searcy, AR · Private nonprofit · Federal field 1419

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.

$18,534 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
36.7% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$26,503 / year
10-year scenario
+7% · Positive payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$73,601 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+50%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$53,229$79,712
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
19Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
27Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$22,130

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$27,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$73,601

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$286/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$22,130Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$39,534Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE70.5%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE68.8%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$53,229Year 1
$73,601Year 4
$79,712Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.7% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$6,133
Estimated loan payment$286
27borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$73,601 vs. $92,135

$18,534 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Architectural and Engineering Managers$140,600 median wageAR estimate · 1,220 jobs · 11-9041+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 14.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEngineering Teachers, Postsecondary$104,210 median wageAR estimate · 120 jobs · 25-1032+7.8% projected U.S. growth · 3.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeAerospace Engineers$102,040 median wageAR estimate · 180 jobs · 17-2011+8.3% projected U.S. growth · 3.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMechanical Engineers$80,180 median wageAR estimate · 1,410 jobs · 17-2141+11.2% projected U.S. growth · 17.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCost Estimators$61,470 median wageAR estimate · 1,400 jobs · 13-1051-3.1% projected U.S. growth · 17.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Russellville, AR

Arkansas Tech University

$11,908 higher earnings · $4,030 less debt · $9,160 lower annual net price

Earnings
$85,509
Debt
$22,970
Annual net price
$12,970
View outcomes →
Fayetteville, AR

University of Arkansas

$10,863 higher earnings · $3,986 less debt · $3,921 lower annual net price

Earnings
$84,464
Debt
$23,014
Annual net price
$18,209
View outcomes →
Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas State University

$18,064 higher earnings · $9,764 lower annual net price

Earnings
$91,665
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$12,366
View outcomes →
Cambridge, MA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

$58,366 higher earnings · $15,666 less debt · $2,019 lower annual net price

Earnings
$131,967
Debt
$11,334
Annual net price
$20,111
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

19 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

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