Mechanical Engineering
Bachelor's degree · California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA
How this program compares
Graduates of the bachelor's degree program in Mechanical Engineering at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo earn a median of $83,011 one year after completing the program. Nationally, bachelor's degree graduates in this field earn a median of $92,135 four years after graduating (middle half: $77,715–$109,121). Median debt is $20,500, about 25% of first-year earnings – a manageable level by common guidelines.
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's degree) at other California schools
| College | Earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|
| Cal Poly Maritime Academy Vallejo | $92,315 | $19,690 |
| University of California-Berkeley Berkeley | $88,497 | $13,000 |
| University of Southern California Los Angeles | $83,356 | $14,250 |
| Santa Clara University Santa Clara | $81,865 | $19,000 |
| University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara | $81,108 | $15,000 |
| University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles | $79,016 | $16,500 |
| University of San Diego San Diego | $77,962 | $26,187 |
| University of the Pacific Stockton | $76,785 | $28,000 |
| University of California-Davis Davis | $75,231 | $13,867 |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona | $75,040 | $16,940 |
| California State University-Chico Chico | $73,297 | $22,353 |
| San Francisco State University San Francisco | $72,647 | $21,250 |
| California Baptist University Riverside | $72,224 | $27,000 |
| California State University-Northridge Northridge | $71,359 | $17,000 |
| San Diego State University San Diego | $69,754 | $19,499 |
Other programs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
- Computer EngineeringBachelor's degree
$111,560 - Computer ScienceBachelor's degree
$111,141 - Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space EngineeringMaster's degree
$106,635 - Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsMaster's degree
$96,886 - Construction ManagementBachelor's degree
$92,785 - Mechanical EngineeringMaster's degree
$92,510 - Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringBachelor's degree
$90,576 - Biomedical/Medical EngineeringMaster's degree
$88,348 - Industrial EngineeringBachelor's degree
$87,226 - Civil EngineeringMaster's degree
$85,887 - Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space EngineeringBachelor's degree
$85,509 - Environmental/Environmental Health EngineeringBachelor's degree
$82,197 - Biomedical/Medical EngineeringBachelor's degree
$81,186 - Civil EngineeringBachelor's degree
$80,673 - Architectural EngineeringBachelor's degree
$80,481 - Industrial Production Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's degree
$78,938 - Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasMaster's degree
$78,641 - Educational Administration and SupervisionMaster's degree
$76,876 - Materials EngineeringBachelor's degree
$74,496 - Agricultural MechanizationBachelor's degree
$73,053
Frequently asked questions
How much do Mechanical Engineering graduates from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo make?
The median salary is $83,011 one year after graduation and $110,675 after five years.
How much student debt do graduates have?
Graduates who borrowed federal loans owe a median of $20,500.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release (Field of Study data). Earnings are for graduates who received federal financial aid.