Bachelor's0% vs national median2,210 grads tracked
Mechanical Engineering at University of Colorado Boulder
Ranked 40th of 125 bachelor's programs in Mechanical Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$70,217
middle 50%: $52,332 – $86,755
Median · 5 years out
$96,962
middle 50%: $78,247 – $119,501
Median · 10 years out
$121,980
middle 50%: $94,756 – $156,049
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 alumni from CU Boulder earn a median of $70k in their first year. Earnings reach $97k at five years and $122k at 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
4.3 yrs
≈ $4,688 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
$98,155 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Arlington
$97,934 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$97,660 · 5 yrs out
University of New Orleans (The)
$97,375 · 5 yrs out
Oregon State University
$97,375 · 5 yrs out
University of Saint Thomas
$97,281 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$97,072 · 5 yrs out
Oklahoma State University
$96,932 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
$96,680 · 5 yrs out
University of Iowa
$96,556 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$96,517 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Kansas City
$96,404 · 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
Engineering (Doctorate)
$134,060 · 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
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