Bachelor's+4% vs national median4,056 grads tracked
Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University
Ranked 17th of 125 bachelor's programs in Mechanical Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$79,490
middle 50%: $67,185 – $93,192
Median · 5 years out
$100,411
middle 50%: $84,703 – $121,145
Median · 10 years out
$129,039
middle 50%: $103,984 – $164,030
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 at Purdue University start with a median salary of $79k. This grows to $129k after ten years of experience.
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
3.9 yrs
≈ $4,219 total interest
Same major at other universities
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
University of Oklahoma
$100,601 · 5 yrs out
Southern University and Agricultural & Mechanical Colg at Baton Rouge
$100,497 · 5 yrs out
University of Virginia
$100,217 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Institute of Technology
$100,175 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$100,162 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$100,126 · 5 yrs out
Prairie View Agricultural & Mechanical University
$99,690 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Tyler
$99,411 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Purdue University
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$219,424 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$162,085 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$160,199 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$153,081 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$152,803 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$151,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$148,110 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$141,828 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$135,976 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$126,565 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$122,270 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Doctorate)
$122,253 · 5 yrs out
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