Mechanical Engineering at Iowa State University
Ames, IA · Bachelor's Degree · about 356 graduates a year
Iowa State University graduates in mechanical engineering earn 7% less than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 27% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Iowa State University 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 |
| … | |||||
| 273 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FL | $86,156 | $91,702 | #171 | $66,843 |
| 274 | Cedarville University Cedarville, OH | $86,062 | $91,841 | #167 | $69,178 |
| 275 | University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL | $85,995 | $91,531 | #175 | $66,743 |
| 276 | Iowa State University Ames, IA | $85,938 | $90,396 | #191 | $72,900 |
| 277 | Oklahoma Christian University Edmond, OK | $85,881 | $96,424 | #104 | $65,764 |
| 278 | University of Evansville Evansville, IN | $85,851 | $92,102 | #160 | $66,553 |
| 279 | Ohio Northern University Ada, OH | $85,802 | $91,564 | #174 | $72,443 |
Other Mechanical Engineering Credentials at Iowa State University
| Credential | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $98,551 | $106,245 | $25,300 |
Other Majors at Iowa State University by Graduate Pay
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Iowa State University mechanical engineering graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $72,900 one year after graduating and $85,938 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Iowa State University rank for mechanical engineering?
Among 318 colleges reporting earnings for mechanical engineering graduates, Iowa State University ranks #276 by median pay four years after graduation, and #191 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is mechanical engineering at Iowa State University worth it?
Its graduates earn 7% less than the national median for mechanical engineering ($92,135), and the median federal debt at graduation is $22,822.
← All data for Iowa State University · 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.