WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-6% vs national median2,698 grads tracked

Engineering at Northern Illinois University

Ranked 111th of 185 bachelor's programs in Engineering by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$70,768
middle 50%: $55,940 – $82,445
Median · 5 years out
$92,179
middle 50%: $78,941 – $108,273
Median · 10 years out
$115,656
middle 50%: $96,561 – $140,536

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Engineering (bachelor's) graduates.

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

Graduates of Northern Illinois University's bachelor's program in Engineering earn a median $70,768 one year after graduating, rising to $115,656 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 6% below the national median of $97,820 for this field, ranking 111th of 185 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
4.4 yrs
≈ $4,738 total interest

Same major at other universities

State University of New York at Oswego (SUNY Oswego)
$92,467 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Commonwealth University
$92,411 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Chicago
$92,406 · 5 yrs out
Winona State University
$92,387 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$92,386 · 5 yrs out
Brigham Young University - Idaho
$92,203 · 5 yrs out
Southern University and Agricultural & Mechanical Colg at Baton Rouge
$92,120 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State University, Mankato
$92,105 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota Duluth
$92,042 · 5 yrs out
Oregon Institute of Technology
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Colorado State University
$91,964 · 5 yrs out
Northern Arizona University
$91,889 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Northern Illinois University

Education (Doctorate)
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,599 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,551 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$111,291 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$109,443 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$102,156 · 5 yrs out
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,392 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$97,297 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,041 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$93,400 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$92,787 · 5 yrs out

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