Mechanical Engineering

What graduates really earn, where the degree pays off most, and whether the numbers add up for you.

Avg Earnings (4yr)

$70,833

Median Earnings

$91,131

Schools Offering

322

ROI Grade

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $87,997Median: $91,13175th: $95,757

Best Schools for Mechanical Engineering by Earnings

#	School	ROI	4yr Earnings	Net Price	Major Debt	Grade
1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology MA · Private	99	$131,967	$20,111	$11,334	A
2	California State University Maritime Academy CA · Public	90	$126,395	$20,555	$19,690	A
3	Santa Clara University CA · Private	90	$122,111	$50,062	$19,500	A
4	Duke University NC · Private	96	$120,991	$29,612	$10,000	A
5	University of California-Berkeley CA · Public	97	$119,371	$13,481	$13,200	A
6	Stanford University CA · Private	99	$117,072	$13,807	N/A	-
7	Princeton University NJ · Private	94	$115,927	$6,128	N/A	-
8	University of Pennsylvania PA · Private	97	$114,492	$28,699	$12,455	A
9	Cornell University NY · Private	96	$112,212	$28,690	$15,500	A
10	Columbia University in the City of New York NY · Private	96	$111,491	$21,590	$16,960	A
11	Johns Hopkins University MD · Private	96	$110,210	$18,809	$10,750	A
12	Rice University TX · Private	98	$108,970	$13,370	$15,375	A
13	University of California-Los Angeles CA · Public	96	$108,875	$12,548	$17,000	A
14	SUNY Maritime College NY · Public	91	$106,932	$22,367	$26,000	B+
15	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo CA · Public	96	$106,750	$16,665	$20,500	A
16	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI · Public	95	$105,888	$13,138	$21,750	B+
17	Carnegie Mellon University PA · Private	97	$105,623	$31,944	$22,777	B+
18	California Baptist University CA · Private	53	$105,046	$26,285	$27,000	B
19	University of Detroit Mercy MI · Private	84	$104,683	$15,232	N/A	-
20	University of Southern California CA · Private	91	$104,649	$32,740	$17,500	A
21	The University of Texas at Austin TX · Public	90	$104,523	$19,857	$18,750	A
22	University of California-Santa Barbara CA · Public	90	$104,336	$16,109	$15,908	A
23	University of California-San Diego CA · Public	96	$104,229	$12,470	$20,000	B+
24	Northeastern University MA · Private	91	$103,384	$30,915	$25,893	B+
25	Purdue University-Main Campus IN · Public	91	$102,572	$14,600	$19,937	A
26	University of California-Davis CA · Public	95	$102,161	$14,741	$15,000	A
27	San Francisco State University CA · Public	80	$102,104	$12,278	$22,047	B+
28	University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA · Public	94	$102,078	$14,091	$15,000	A
29	University of Washington-Bothell Campus WA · Public	91	$102,078	$12,319	$15,000	A
30	University of Washington-Tacoma Campus WA · Public	91	$102,078	$10,163	$15,000	A
31	Lafayette College PA · Private	92	$101,348	$34,433	$19,500	B+
32	Vanderbilt University TN · Private	97	$101,345	$15,846	$14,000	A
33	George Washington University DC · Private	88	$101,196	$36,586	$21,500	B+
34	Tufts University MA · Private	86	$101,196	$39,998	$16,500	A
35	Stevens Institute of Technology NJ · Private	92	$100,554	$41,346	$26,520	B+
36	Lawrence Technological University MI · Private	65	$100,145	$32,918	$27,000	B+
37	University of Maryland-College Park MD · Public	94	$100,003	$15,678	$20,500	B+
38	Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College LA · Public	76	$99,975	$19,151	$18,500	A
39	Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA · Public	97	$99,955	$12,116	$27,000	B+
40	Bucknell University PA · Private	87	$99,860	$40,766	$19,500	A
41	University of Notre Dame IN · Private	97	$99,859	$26,780	$19,000	A
42	University of the Pacific CA · Private	85	$99,573	$25,447	$28,596	B
43	Saint Louis University MO · Private	80	$99,331	$24,398	$25,665	B+
44	Kettering University MI · Private	88	$99,292	$34,660	$28,000	B
45	California State University-Northridge CA · Public	80	$99,216	$7,021	$18,000	B+
46	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona CA · Public	89	$99,148	$11,531	$17,455	A
47	University of California-Irvine CA · Public	94	$99,111	$14,251	$14,500	A
48	Northwestern University IL · Private	94	$98,277	$29,167	$15,334	A
49	New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology NM · Public	89	$98,213	$9,873	$19,500	B+
50	University of Alaska Anchorage AK · Public	54	$98,156	$15,301	$13,876	A

Exceptional Value

Is Mechanical Engineering Worth It?

The Numbers Support This Major

If you're weighing Mechanical Engineering, the money case is about as strong as it gets. Graduates average $70,833 four years out, well above the typical major, so the degree tends to pay for itself fast. The harder question here isn't whether it's worth it - it's where you study it.

322 schools offer this major, so you have real options. Compare net price and graduate earnings at your actual target schools - the spread between the best and worst ROI in this field is wide.

The top earner here is Stanford University, where graduates pull $117,072 four years out. But an average hides a wide spread - where you go, and what you do with the degree, matter as much as the major itself.

Best ROI Schools for Mechanical Engineering All Majors ROI Calculator Compare Schools

Earnings data represents median earnings 4 years after graduation for graduates of bachelor's programs, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Individual outcomes vary significantly based on career path, location, and other factors.

Mechanical Engineering

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

Best Schools for Mechanical Engineering by Earnings

Is Mechanical Engineering Worth It?

The Numbers Support This Major

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