WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Research)+9% vs national median2,298 grads tracked

Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Ranked 7th of 80 doctoral (research) programs in Engineering by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$114,501
middle 50%: $71,174 – $152,022
Median · 5 years out
$151,479
middle 50%: $120,473 – $197,860
Median · 10 years out
$179,631
middle 50%: $138,872 – $254,723

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Engineering (doctoral (research)) graduates.

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

Graduates of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's doctoral (research) program in Engineering earn a median $114,501 one year after graduating, rising to $179,631 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 9% above the national median of $139,316 for this field, ranking 7th of 80 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
2.8 yrs
≈ $2,848 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
$179,858 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Dallas
$175,253 · 5 yrs out
George Mason University
$158,478 · 5 yrs out
Portland State University
$158,313 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$156,021 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$155,189 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Albany
$151,191 · 5 yrs out
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
$148,888 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$148,552 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Institute of Technology
$148,445 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
$145,494 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$144,896 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$226,077 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$206,093 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$177,207 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$176,681 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$173,815 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$164,239 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$159,201 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$152,834 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$126,011 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's)
$120,803 · 5 yrs out

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