Bachelor's0% vs national median1,234 grads tracked
Mechanical Engineering at University of Iowa
Ranked 45th of 125 bachelor's programs in Mechanical Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$73,447
middle 50%: $59,398 – $86,674
Median · 5 years out
$96,556
middle 50%: $81,090 – $115,288
Median · 10 years out
$120,219
middle 50%: $99,282 – $147,261
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 majors at the University of Iowa command a $73k median salary immediately after graduation. Ten-year median earnings climb to $120k.
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
4.2 yrs
≈ $4,539 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$97,072 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Boulder
$96,962 · 5 yrs out
Oklahoma State University
$96,932 · 5 yrs out
Fairfield University
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
$96,680 · 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
City College of New York - CUNY
$96,052 · 5 yrs out
West Texas A&M University
$95,880 · 5 yrs out
Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$95,783 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Berks
$95,669 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Iowa
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$197,724 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$173,339 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$167,710 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$157,015 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$151,198 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$144,877 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$121,670 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$114,999 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$112,327 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$112,327 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$107,625 · 5 yrs out
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