WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-4% vs national median1,547 grads tracked

Mechanical Engineering at University of South Carolina - Columbia

Ranked 83rd of 125 bachelor's programs in Mechanical Engineering by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$72,885
middle 50%: $59,293 – $82,352
Median · 5 years out
$92,820
middle 50%: $80,296 – $107,398
Median · 10 years out
$112,689
middle 50%: $94,422 – $138,367

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 South Carolina - Columbia's bachelor's program in Mechanical Engineering earn a median $72,885 one year after graduating, rising to $112,689 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 4% below the national median of $96,517 for this field, ranking 83rd 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
≈ $4,623 total interest

Same major at other universities

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
University of Texas at Dallas
$93,078 · 5 yrs out
Old Dominion University
$92,895 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii at Manoa
$92,698 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
$92,673 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
$92,662 · 5 yrs out
University of Toledo
$92,584 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
$92,357 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
$92,308 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of South Carolina - Columbia

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$176,841 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$168,157 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$153,126 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$150,876 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$129,928 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$122,810 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,242 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$114,563 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$102,325 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$100,689 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$100,245 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$99,491 · 5 yrs out

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