Mechanical Engineering graduates from University of Southern California earn $139,101 median salary — above the national average for this program.
Mechanical Engineering at University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California • Master's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Mechanical Engineering at University of Southern California
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for University of Southern California 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 102 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at University of Southern California, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $139,101 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 University of Southern California, the mean median-earnings figure is $96,402, 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 | $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 (this school) | $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 University of Southern California
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Law | $203,028 | $138,518 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | $195,019 | — |
| Computer Science | $192,897 | $19,625 |
| Computer Science | $188,871 | $51,250 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $187,852 | $100,338 |
| Real Estate Development | $185,174 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $181,250 | $77,686 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $180,468 | — |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | $179,146 | $283,763 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $179,055 | $63,625 |
View all 150 programs at University of Southern California →
Other Schools with Mechanical Engineering
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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.