Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · Bachelor's Degree · about 342 graduates a year
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University graduates in mechanical engineering earn 5% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 23% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Virginia Polytechnic Institute and 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 |
| … | |||||
| 67 | Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA | $96,618 | $98,261 | #83 | $75,479 |
| 68 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA | $96,467 | $87,842 | #231 | $73,570 |
| 69 | Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH | $96,418 | $102,892 | #46 | $79,359 |
| 70 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA | $96,376 | $87,759 | #233 | $78,280 |
| 71 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott Prescott, AZ | $96,331 | $98,982 | #77 | $73,433 |
| 72 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Daytona Beach, FL | $96,331 | $102,532 | #50 | $73,433 |
| 73 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA | $96,226 | $87,559 | #236 | $60,798 |
Other Mechanical Engineering Credentials at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
| Credential | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $83,163 | $119,843 | — |
Other Majors at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University by Graduate Pay
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University mechanical engineering graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $78,280 one year after graduating and $96,376 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University rank for mechanical engineering?
Among 318 colleges reporting earnings for mechanical engineering graduates, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ranks #70 by median pay four years after graduation, and #233 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is mechanical engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University worth it?
Its graduates earn 5% more than the national median for mechanical engineering ($92,135), and the median federal debt at graduation is $22,500.
← All data for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and 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.