Doctoral (Research)-4% vs national median953 grads tracked
Engineering at University of Colorado Boulder
Ranked 31st of 80 doctoral (research) programs in Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$98,517
middle 50%: $65,717 – $132,861
Median · 5 years out
$134,060
middle 50%: $102,164 – $170,976
Median · 10 years out
$162,991
middle 50%: $129,686 – $215,917
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Engineering (doctoral (research)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Engineering research doctorates from the University of Colorado Boulder earn a $98,517 median salary in year one. Long-term median pay reaches $162,991 after ten years.
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
3.1 yrs
≈ $3,307 total interest
Same major at other universities
Texas Tech University
$137,159 · 5 yrs out
University of Connecticut
$136,735 · 5 yrs out
Colorado School of Mines
$136,731 · 5 yrs out
Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$136,278 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$135,252 · 5 yrs out
University of Virginia
$134,161 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
$133,770 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$133,569 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Chicago
$133,429 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
$132,457 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
$132,072 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Arlington
$131,085 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Colorado Boulder
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$179,121 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$162,413 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$136,557 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$121,503 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$121,397 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$118,475 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$115,546 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$112,642 · 5 yrs out
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering (Bachelor's)
$111,066 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$104,453 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$104,453 · 5 yrs out
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's)
$103,123 · 5 yrs out
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