Mechanical Engineering graduates from Cornell University earn $128,130 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $21,805.
Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University
Ithaca, New York • Master's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Cornell University and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Mechanical Engineering at the master's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 86 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Cornell University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $128,130 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $109,050 across all institutions offering Mechanical Engineering, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Cornell University, the mean median-earnings figure is $101,519, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Mechanical Engineering graduates at Cornell University is $21,805, which translates to roughly $182 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.17 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Mechanical Engineering at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $200,732 | $45,290 |
| Santa Clara University | $170,120 | — |
| Stanford University | $167,632 | $41,000 |
| University of California-Berkeley | $147,475 | — |
| Duke University | $139,868 | — |
| University of Southern California | $139,101 | — |
| University of New Mexico-Main Campus | $138,833 | — |
| University of California-Los Angeles | $138,803 | $20,500 |
| California State University-Long Beach | $138,465 | — |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | $137,970 | — |
Other Programs at Cornell University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Law | $259,851 | $162,160 |
| Computer Science | $235,762 | $34,528 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $226,632 | $129,912 |
| Computer Science | $223,309 | $14,750 |
| Operations Research | $203,340 | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $196,882 | $73,233 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $163,586 | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $156,103 | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $155,909 | $44,500 |
| Operations Research | $151,709 | $15,000 |
Other Schools with Mechanical Engineering
Quick picks offering the same program — compare side by side
About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.