Mechanical Engineering at University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · Bachelor's Degree · about 147 graduates a year
University of California-San Diego graduates in mechanical engineering earn 13% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 19% of one year’s pay at that point.
How University of California-San Diego Compares for Mechanical Engineering
All 318 colleges reporting mechanical engineering earnings at this degree level, ranked by median pay four years after graduation. “Wage-adjusted” divides pay by the square root of the state’s wage index so colleges in low-wage states aren’t penalized for local pay.
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | Adj. rank | 1 yr after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA | $131,967 | $116,211 | #3 | $83,957 |
| 2 | California State University Maritime Academy Vallejo, CA | $126,395 | $115,011 | #5 | $92,315 |
| 3 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA | $122,111 | $111,113 | #10 | $81,865 |
| 4 | Duke University Durham, NC | $120,991 | $129,841 | #1 | $89,938 |
| 5 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | $119,371 | $108,620 | #16 | $88,497 |
| 6 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | $117,072 | $106,528 | #28 | — |
| 7 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | $115,927 | $101,747 | #53 | $85,328 |
| 8 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | $114,492 | $116,439 | #2 | $66,876 |
| 9 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY | $112,212 | $106,803 | #27 | $85,440 |
| 10 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | $111,491 | $106,116 | #32 | $72,036 |
| … | |||||
| 20 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | $104,649 | $95,224 | #115 | $83,356 |
| 21 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX | $104,523 | $106,269 | #31 | $82,227 |
| 22 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | $104,336 | $94,939 | #117 | $81,108 |
| 23 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | $104,229 | $94,842 | #118 | $69,555 |
| 24 | Northeastern University Boston, MA | $103,384 | $91,040 | #181 | $80,255 |
| 25 | Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology Flushing, NY | $103,254 | $98,276 | #82 | $74,472 |
| 26 | Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN | $102,572 | $110,041 | #14 | $80,374 |
Other Mechanical Engineering Credentials at University of California-San Diego
| Credential | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $112,996 | $128,129 | — |
Other Majors at University of California-San Diego by Graduate Pay
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do University of California-San Diego mechanical engineering graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $69,555 one year after graduating and $104,229 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does University of California-San Diego rank for mechanical engineering?
Among 318 colleges reporting earnings for mechanical engineering graduates, University of California-San Diego ranks #23 by median pay four years after graduation, and #118 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is mechanical engineering at University of California-San Diego worth it?
Its graduates earn 13% more than the national median for mechanical engineering ($92,135), and the median federal debt at graduation is $20,000.
← All data for University of California-San Diego · Methodology
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled; programs with few graduates are not reported. Wage adjustment uses Census ACS state median household income.