Mechanical Engineering graduates from Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks earn $87,997 median salary — below the national average for this program. Median debt: $26,723.
Mechanical Engineering at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks
Reading, Pennsylvania • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Mechanical Engineering at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Mechanical Engineering at the bachelor'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 38 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $87,997 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 $90,713 across all institutions offering Mechanical Engineering, graduates here earn below the national average for this program. Across all programs at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks, the mean median-earnings figure is $69,500, 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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks is $26,723, which translates to roughly $223 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 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 | $131,967 | $11,507 |
| California State University Maritime Academy | $126,395 | $19,690 |
| Santa Clara University | $122,111 | $19,000 |
| Duke University | $120,991 | $10,000 |
| University of California-Berkeley | $119,371 | $13,000 |
| Stanford University | $117,072 | — |
| Princeton University | $115,927 | — |
| University of Pennsylvania | $114,492 | $12,910 |
| Cornell University | $112,212 | $15,500 |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | $111,491 | $10,057 |
Other Programs at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $120,729 | $25,000 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $102,874 | $26,000 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $98,637 | $26,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $93,527 | $12,652 |
| Information Science/Studies | $91,671 | $25,950 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $88,192 | $25,218 |
| Mechanical Engineering (current) | $87,997 | $26,723 |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | $81,835 | $27,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $81,794 | $26,000 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $81,755 | $27,000 |
View all 30 programs at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks →
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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.