Bachelor's-7% vs national median724 grads tracked
Mechanical Engineering at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Ranked 106th of 125 bachelor's programs in Mechanical Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$70,086
middle 50%: $55,960 – $82,499
Median · 5 years out
$90,056
middle 50%: $76,098 – $107,265
Median · 10 years out
$112,131
middle 50%: $90,600 – $141,034
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 graduates from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale earn $70k in year one. Ten-year median pay reaches $112k.
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
≈ $4,810 total interest
Same major at other universities
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
Ohio University
$89,709 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Buffalo
$89,545 · 5 yrs out
Youngstown State University
$89,458 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Platteville
$89,020 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Southern University
$88,731 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
$88,687 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$183,045 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$183,045 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$146,060 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Bachelor's)
$128,910 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$128,254 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$112,207 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$110,141 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$98,560 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,955 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$97,921 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$95,779 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,729 · 5 yrs out
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