Mechanical Engineering at Rice University
Houston, TX · Bachelor's Degree · about 65 graduates a year
Rice University graduates in mechanical engineering earn 18% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 14% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Rice 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 |
| 11 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | $110,210 | $96,722 | #102 | — |
| 12 | Rice University Houston, TX | $108,970 | $110,791 | #11 | $82,899 |
| 13 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | $108,875 | $99,069 | #74 | $79,016 |
| 14 | SUNY Maritime College Throggs Neck, NY | $106,932 | $101,777 | #52 | $77,895 |
| 15 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA | $106,750 | $97,136 | #98 | $83,011 |
Other Majors at Rice University by Graduate Pay
| Major | 4 yrs after | 1 yr after | Rank in major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | $182,443 | $131,154 | #6 of 459 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $136,656 | $96,751 | #8 of 258 |
| Economics | $129,575 | $78,814 | #17 of 368 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $121,099 | $88,307 | #2 of 118 |
| Chemical Engineering | $113,605 | $87,830 | #9 of 158 |
| Political Science and Government | $87,804 | $54,728 | #27 of 565 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $87,404 | $51,110 | #1 of 610 |
| Cognitive Science | $66,913 | $47,459 | #17 of 19 |
| Mathematics | — | $50,286 | — |
| Psychology | — | $41,299 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Rice University mechanical engineering graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $82,899 one year after graduating and $108,970 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Rice University rank for mechanical engineering?
Among 318 colleges reporting earnings for mechanical engineering graduates, Rice University ranks #12 by median pay four years after graduation, and #11 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is mechanical engineering at Rice University worth it?
Its graduates earn 18% more than the national median for mechanical engineering ($92,135), and the median federal debt at graduation is $15,375.
← All data for Rice 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.