WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-3% vs national median1,012 grads tracked

Mechanical Engineering at Portland State University

Ranked 74th of 125 bachelor's programs in Mechanical Engineering by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$74,018
middle 50%: $59,633 – $85,756
Median · 5 years out
$93,741
middle 50%: $77,948 – $110,167
Median · 10 years out
$113,738
middle 50%: $93,874 – $138,922

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 Portland State University's bachelor's program in Mechanical Engineering earn a median $74,018 one year after graduating, rising to $113,738 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 3% below the national median of $96,517 for this field, ranking 74th 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
4.3 yrs
≈ $4,555 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Wyoming
$94,305 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama at Birmingham
$94,107 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Columbia
$94,029 · 5 yrs out
Utah State University
$93,917 · 5 yrs out
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
$93,807 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at New Paltz
$93,789 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
$93,703 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota Duluth
$93,634 · 5 yrs out
George Mason University
$93,589 · 5 yrs out
Binghamton University
$93,437 · 5 yrs out
University of Cincinnati
$93,239 · 5 yrs out
Clemson University
$93,144 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Portland State University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$189,860 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$158,313 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$130,437 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$126,846 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$123,233 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$122,667 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Doctorate)
$120,677 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$116,662 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$115,474 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,147 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$110,977 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$105,672 · 5 yrs out

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