Best Mechanical Engineering Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
2
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$1,432,074
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$58,246
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
University of California-Los Angeles
Grad rate: 92.6% |
CA | +$1,535,048 | $126,081 | $36,643 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Grad rate: 95.5% |
MA | +$1,329,100 | $124,425 | $79,850 | N/A | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Mechanical Engineering Degrees by State
Browse Mechanical Engineering programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.