Bachelor's-5% vs national median1,140 grads tracked
Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University
Ranked 95th of 125 bachelor's programs in Mechanical Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$69,934
middle 50%: $53,173 – $85,165
Median · 5 years out
$91,896
middle 50%: $76,285 – $111,890
Median · 10 years out
$114,950
middle 50%: $91,931 – $142,118
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 graduates at VCU earn a median $69,934 in their first year. Median salaries reach $114,950 by year ten.
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
4.4 yrs
≈ $4,786 total interest
Same major at other universities
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
$92,308 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Erie, The Behrend College
$92,296 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University - North Central
$92,269 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State University, Mankato
$92,158 · 5 yrs out
Montana State University Bozeman
$92,156 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at San Antonio
$92,016 · 5 yrs out
St. Cloud State University
$91,526 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Chicago
$91,169 · 5 yrs out
University of North Texas
$91,022 · 5 yrs out
Northern Illinois University
$90,924 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$90,822 · 5 yrs out
Miami University
$90,771 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Virginia Commonwealth University
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$175,347 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$157,685 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$154,279 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$152,472 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$131,725 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$130,026 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$128,182 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$123,259 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$122,217 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$105,799 · 5 yrs out
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (Master's)
$105,500 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$105,054 · 5 yrs out
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