Bachelor's-2% vs national median1,854 grads tracked
Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University
Ranked 63rd of 125 bachelor's programs in Mechanical Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$71,572
middle 50%: $54,932 – $86,270
Median · 5 years out
$94,865
middle 50%: $77,059 – $113,596
Median · 10 years out
$118,614
middle 50%: $90,841 – $151,285
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Mechanical Engineering (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Mechanical Engineering graduates at Colorado State University earn $72k in their first year. Median pay rises to $95k at five years and $119k by year ten.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
4.3 yrs
≈ $4,655 total interest
Same major at other universities
Missouri University of Science and Technology
$95,167 · 5 yrs out
West Virginia University
$95,080 · 5 yrs out
University of Southern Maine
$95,075 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Denver
$95,004 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$94,903 · 5 yrs out
University of Hartford
$94,869 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Military Institute
$94,807 · 5 yrs out
West Virginia University - Institute of Technology
$94,789 · 5 yrs out
University of New Haven
$94,584 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$94,517 · 5 yrs out
University of Wyoming
$94,305 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama at Birmingham
$94,107 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Colorado State University
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$212,009 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$135,185 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$131,863 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$127,509 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$125,457 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Bachelor's)
$120,903 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Bachelor's)
$120,903 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$115,842 · 5 yrs out
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's)
$108,642 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$107,710 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$106,687 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$106,500 · 5 yrs out
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