WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+4% vs national median969 grads tracked

Mechanical Engineering at University of Virginia

Ranked 18th of 125 bachelor's programs in Mechanical Engineering by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$78,713
middle 50%: $63,698 – $94,389
Median · 5 years out
$100,217
middle 50%: $83,671 – $123,972
Median · 10 years out
$130,971
middle 50%: $105,630 – $179,033

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 Virginia's bachelor's program in Mechanical Engineering earn a median $78,713 one year after graduating, rising to $130,971 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 4% above the national median of $96,517 for this field, ranking 18th 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 yrs
≈ $4,255 total interest

Same major at other universities

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
Purdue University
$100,411 · 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
Central Connecticut State University
$99,338 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of Virginia

Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$222,735 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$222,735 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$198,412 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$187,481 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Certificate)
$163,027 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$162,877 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$144,468 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$144,468 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Certificate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$134,161 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$133,882 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$133,294 · 5 yrs out

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