WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+1% vs national median1,976 grads tracked

Mechanical Engineering at Oregon State University

Ranked 37th of 125 bachelor's programs in Mechanical Engineering by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$74,845
middle 50%: $57,867 – $87,438
Median · 5 years out
$97,375
middle 50%: $81,860 – $116,678
Median · 10 years out
$117,963
middle 50%: $98,075 – $146,169

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 Oregon State University's bachelor's program in Mechanical Engineering earn a median $74,845 one year after graduating, rising to $117,963 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 1% above the national median of $96,517 for this field, ranking 37th 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
4.2 yrs
≈ $4,463 total interest

Same major at other universities

Oregon Institute of Technology
$98,320 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$98,212 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
$98,155 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Arlington
$97,934 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$97,660 · 5 yrs out
University of New Orleans (The)
$97,375 · 5 yrs out
University of Saint Thomas
$97,281 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$97,072 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Boulder
$96,962 · 5 yrs out
Oklahoma State University
$96,932 · 5 yrs out
Fairfield University
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina
$96,791 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Oregon State University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$176,356 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$171,456 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$162,096 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$162,096 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$139,445 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$136,207 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$123,582 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$116,256 · 5 yrs out
Biological and Physical Sciences (Bachelor's)
$116,180 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$110,634 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$110,004 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$109,381 · 5 yrs out

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