WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-1% vs national median1,610 grads tracked

Mechanical Engineering at West Virginia University

Ranked 58th of 125 bachelor's programs in Mechanical Engineering by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$71,441
middle 50%: $52,920 – $83,455
Median · 5 years out
$95,080
middle 50%: $80,419 – $110,322
Median · 10 years out
$116,108
middle 50%: $95,422 – $142,385

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 West Virginia University's bachelor's program in Mechanical Engineering earn a median $71,441 one year after graduating, rising to $116,108 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 1% below the national median of $96,517 for this field, ranking 58th 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
≈ $4,658 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Texas at El Paso
$95,610 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University Northwest
$95,590 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama in Huntsville
$95,359 · 5 yrs out
University of Utah
$95,335 · 5 yrs out
Northern Arizona University
$95,275 · 5 yrs out
Missouri University of Science and Technology
$95,167 · 5 yrs out
University of Southern Maine
$95,075 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Denver
$95,004 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$94,903 · 5 yrs out
University of Hartford
$94,869 · 5 yrs out
Colorado State University
$94,865 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Military Institute
$94,807 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at West Virginia University

Dentistry (Doctorate)
$165,016 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$156,627 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$152,069 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$150,321 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$128,840 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$122,766 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$117,305 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$113,771 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$112,107 · 5 yrs out
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's)
$111,311 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$109,203 · 5 yrs out

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