WhatGradsMake
Master's-6% vs national median1,062 grads tracked

Engineering at Northern Illinois University

Ranked 70th of 126 master's programs in Engineering by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$76,783
middle 50%: $59,726 – $94,551
Median · 5 years out
$111,551
middle 50%: $94,817 – $132,649
Median · 10 years out
$139,051
middle 50%: $115,470 – $170,310

Salary trajectory

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

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

Graduates of Northern Illinois University's master's program in Engineering earn a median $76,783 one year after graduating, rising to $139,051 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 6% below the national median of $118,623 for this field, ranking 70th of 126 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
3.8 yrs
≈ $4,206 total interest

Same major at other universities

Montana Technological University
$112,527 · 5 yrs out
University of Oklahoma
$112,413 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
$112,298 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$112,184 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Denver
$112,107 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State University, Mankato
$111,945 · 5 yrs out
Northern Arizona University
$111,278 · 5 yrs out
University of New Haven
$111,205 · 5 yrs out
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
$111,205 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Kansas City
$110,877 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$110,830 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$110,763 · 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
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
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Doctorate)
$92,521 · 5 yrs out

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