Bachelor's-6% vs national median1,446 grads tracked
Mechanical Engineering at Northern Illinois University
Ranked 99th of 125 bachelor's programs in Mechanical Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$69,937
middle 50%: $56,001 – $81,006
Median · 5 years out
$90,924
middle 50%: $78,529 – $107,644
Median · 10 years out
$114,132
middle 50%: $96,052 – $138,518
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 alumni earn a median of $70k immediately after graduation. This grows to $114k by year 10.
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
≈ $4,803 total interest
Same major at other universities
Montana State University Bozeman
$92,156 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at San Antonio
$92,016 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Commonwealth University
$91,896 · 5 yrs out
St. Cloud State University
$91,526 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Chicago
$91,169 · 5 yrs out
University of North Texas
$91,022 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$90,822 · 5 yrs out
Miami University
$90,771 · 5 yrs out
Valparaiso University
$90,632 · 5 yrs out
Brigham Young University - Idaho
$90,527 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
$90,342 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
$90,134 · 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
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
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$92,179 · 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