Mechanical Engineering graduates from Princeton University earn $115,927 median salary — above the national average for this program.
Mechanical Engineering at Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Mechanical Engineering at Princeton University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Princeton University 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 53 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Princeton University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $115,927 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 above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Princeton University, the mean median-earnings figure is $96,704, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. Median federal debt is not separately reported for this program at this school.. 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 (this school) | $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 Princeton University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $217,973 | — |
| Computer Engineering | $214,274 | — |
| Economics | $160,763 | $11,250 |
| Public Policy Analysis | $120,163 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering (current) | $115,927 | — |
| Public Policy Analysis | $107,792 | $10,527 |
| Operations Research | $100,354 | — |
| History | $90,535 | — |
| Political Science and Government | $88,576 | — |
| History | $80,347 | — |
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.