WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+52% vs national median59 grads tracked

Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians at College of Lake County

Ranked 2nd of 11 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$69,727
middle 50%: $49,513 – $96,310
Median · 5 years out
$86,717
middle 50%: $60,144 – $118,430
Median · 10 years out
n/a
not enough graduates to report

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of College of Lake County's certificate (under 1 year) program in Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians earn a median $69,727 one year after graduating, rising to $86,717 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 52% above the national median of $56,877 for this field, ranking 2nd of 11 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
4.6 yrs
≈ $4,890 total interest

Same major at other universities

Midlands Technical College
$102,715 · 5 yrs out
Three Rivers Community College
$73,499 · 5 yrs out
Tidewater Community College
$68,521 · 5 yrs out
Texas State Technical College
$61,403 · 5 yrs out
Springfield Technical Community College
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Cuyahoga Community College
$51,994 · 5 yrs out
Columbus State Community College
$48,054 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at College of Lake County

Fire Protection (Associate)
$112,340 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Certificate)
$95,590 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$86,086 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Certificate)
$85,430 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$80,647 · 5 yrs out
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$78,110 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$76,582 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$74,878 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$74,872 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Associate)
$74,872 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$74,301 · 5 yrs out

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