WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+8% vs national median2,171 grads tracked

Mechanical Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Ranked 8th of 125 bachelor's programs in Mechanical Engineering by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$81,599
middle 50%: $68,626 – $93,152
Median · 5 years out
$104,211
middle 50%: $87,230 – $124,787
Median · 10 years out
$134,508
middle 50%: $111,228 – $173,701

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

Graduates of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's bachelor's program in Mechanical Engineering earn a median $81,599 one year after graduating, rising to $134,508 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 8% above the national median of $96,517 for this field, ranking 8th of 125 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
≈ $4,090 total interest

Same major at other universities

SUNY Maritime College
$111,922 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University
$111,636 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$111,509 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$111,433 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$107,421 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana Tech University
$104,696 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$103,012 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$102,699 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
$102,352 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$101,424 · 5 yrs out
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
$101,094 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
$100,766 · 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
Engineering (Doctorate)
$151,479 · 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

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