WhatGradsMake
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

Graduates of University of Iowa's bachelor's program in Mechanical Engineering earn a median $73,447 one year after graduating, rising to $120,219 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 0% above the national median of $96,517 for this field, ranking 45th of 125 reporting programs.

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

Related fields of study

Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Compare universities
Agricultural Engineering
Compare universities
Architectural Engineering
Compare universities
Biochemical Engineering
Compare universities
Biological/Biosystems Engineering
Compare universities
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Compare universities