Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering graduates earn an average annual wage of $101,655, making it one of the higher-paying degree fields. With 62,830 professionals in the field earning competitive wages, this degree offers strong career prospects.
Key Statistics
Institutions
Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in Mechanical Engineering and the types of students that study this field.
Tuition Costs for Common Institutions
$11,790 Median In-State Public
$36,930 Median Out of State Private
Tuition costs for Mechanical Engineering majors are, on average, $11,790 for in-state public colleges, and $36,930 for out of state private colleges.
Tuition costs comparison for Mechanical Engineering programs.
Degrees Awarded Over Time
1,407,476 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023
This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Mechanical Engineering from 2015 to 2023.
Historical trend of degrees awarded in Mechanical Engineering.
Top 5 Schools by Enrollment
| # | School | State | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liberty University | VA | 50,059 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at Austin | TX | 42,100 |
| 3 | Michigan State University | MI | 40,243 |
| 4 | Purdue University-Main Campus | IN | 39,637 |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | WI | 35,665 |
Schools with the largest enrollment offering Mechanical Engineering programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition
| # | School | State | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antelope Valley Community College District | CA | $1,124 |
| 2 | Allan Hancock College | CA | $1,156 |
| 3 | Santa Ana College | CA | $1,180 |
| 4 | Chaffey College | CA | $1,184 |
| 5 | Shasta College | CA | $1,197 |
Schools with the lowest tuition costs for Mechanical Engineering programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Net Price
| # | School | State | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saddleback College | CA | $2,976 |
| 2 | Mt San Antonio College | CA | $3,107 |
| 3 | Gods Bible School and College | OH | $3,138 |
| 4 | Shasta College | CA | $3,743 |
| 5 | CUNY Queens College | NY | $3,830 |
Schools with the lowest net price (after financial aid) for Mechanical Engineering programs.
Graduation Rates
61.43% Median Graduation Rate (150% of normal time)
60.79% Average Graduation Rate
498 Institutions Reporting
48.07% - 74.28% Interquartile Range
Graduation/completion rates for Mechanical Engineering programs across institutions.
Employment
Information on the businesses and industries that employ Mechanical Engineering graduates and on wages and locations for those in the field.
Yearly Income for Common Jobs
$101,655 Average Wage in Workforce
The average salary for Mechanical Engineering majors is $101,655.
Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for Mechanical Engineering majors.
Occupations by Share
62,830 2023 Workforce
The number of Mechanical Engineering graduates in the workforce has been growing.
Various jobs filled by those with a major in Mechanical Engineering by share of the total number of graduates.
Return on Investment & Value
Financial analysis of Mechanical Engineering degree including debt, earnings, and return on investment metrics.
Financial Value Analysis
$13,532 Median Student Debt
$40,568 Median Annual Earnings (10 years after enrollment)
33.36% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
3.3 years Estimated Payback Period (assuming 10% of income)
501.30% Return on Investment (10-year earnings vs 4-year cost)
This degree shows strong ROI, with 10-year earnings significantly exceeding the cost of education.
$67,466 Estimated Total Cost (4 years at median net price)
Financial value comparison for Mechanical Engineering degree.
Diversity
Demographic information for those who earn a degree in Mechanical Engineering in the United States.
Workforce Age
N/A Average Age in 2023
This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Age distribution for Mechanical Engineering degree holders in the workforce.
Gender Distribution
42,939 Total Degrees Awarded
35,370 Male (82.37%)
7,569 Female (17.63%)
Gender distribution of Mechanical Engineering degree recipients.
Race and Ethnicity Distribution
22,967 White (53.49%)
5,848 Hispanic or Latino (13.62%)
4,178 Asian (9.73%)
1,724 Two or More Races (4.01%)
1,466 Black or African American (3.41%)
Racial and ethnic distribution of Mechanical Engineering degree recipients.
Degrees Awarded
The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in Mechanical Engineering are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.
Distribution of degree types awarded in Mechanical Engineering.
Skills
Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the Mechanical Engineering field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Required Skills
Mechanical Engineering majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Rating of how necessary various skills are for Mechanical Engineering majors.
Skills Bar Chart
This bar chart shows the same information as the radar chart, displaying the importance of each skill.
Skill importance ratings for Mechanical Engineering majors.
About
Mechanical Engineering
In 2023, 1,407,476 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in Mechanical Engineering.
CIP Code
14.1901 - Mechanical Engineering
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Return on Investment: Mechanical Engineering offers an outstanding ROI of 501%, meaning graduates typically earn significantly more over 10 years than the total cost of their education. This makes it one of the most financially rewarding degree choices available.
High Earning Potential: Mechanical Engineering graduates earn an average annual wage of $101,655, placing them among the top earners in the workforce. This strong earning potential reflects both the demand for skills in this field and the value employers place on this degree.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, IPEDS completion data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Employment and wage data are from the most recent Census Bureau ACS PUMS estimates.