Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree · Northwestern University · Evanston, IL

CIP 14.19

$75,253Median earnings 1 year after graduating
$98,277Median earnings 4 years after
$104,154Median earnings 5 years after
$13,942Median federal debt
72Graduates per year

How this program compares

Graduates of the bachelor's degree program in Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University earn a median of $75,253 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 $13,942, about 19% of first-year earnings – a manageable level by common guidelines.

Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's degree) at other Illinois schools

CollegeEarnings (1 yr)Median debt
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign
$80,187$20,193
Bradley University
Peoria
$71,746$27,000
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago
$69,871$20,146
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale
$69,454$19,500
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb
$68,069$23,125
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville
$66,546$21,774
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago
$65,386$25,000

Highest-paying Mechanical Engineering programs nationwide →

Other programs at Northwestern University

Frequently asked questions

How much do Mechanical Engineering graduates from Northwestern University make?

The median salary is $75,253 one year after graduation and $104,154 after five years.

How much student debt do graduates have?

Graduates who borrowed federal loans owe a median of $13,942.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release (Field of Study data). Earnings are for graduates who received federal financial aid.