Mechanical Engineering · Cornell University
How much do Cornell University Mechanical Engineering graduates earn?
Cornell University's bachelor's graduates in Mechanical Engineering earned a median $112,212 four years after graduating, 22% above the $92,135 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $85,440; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $15,500 in federal loans at this college (about $164 a month on a 10-year plan). The figure is reported for all 2 campuses that share Cornell University's federal aid ID.
- Median earnings, 4 years after:
- $112,212
- National median, same program:
- $92,135
- Federal debt borrowed at this college (median):
- $15,500
- Monthly payment, 10-year plan:
- $164
Cornell University, bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. College Scorecard, 10 June 2026.
Quick answers
- What do Mechanical Engineering graduates of Cornell University earn?
- Cornell University's bachelor's graduates in Mechanical Engineering earned a median $112,212 four years after graduating (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
- How much federal debt do Mechanical Engineering graduates of Cornell University have?
- Graduates who borrowed took out a median $15,500 in federal loans at Cornell University (College Scorecard, graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20).
- How does Cornell University compare with the national median for Mechanical Engineering?
- $112,212 is 22% above the $92,135 national median for bachelor's programs in the same field (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
- How does Cornell University compare with other New York Mechanical Engineering programs?
- It is 22% above the $91,821 earned by graduates of the typical New York bachelor's program in the field (15 programs, College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
- Is a Mechanical Engineering degree from Cornell University worth it?
- Federal data cannot decide that for you, but it puts the figures side by side: Cornell University's bachelor's graduates in Mechanical Engineering earned a median $112,212 four years after graduating (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23), and those who borrowed took out a median $15,500 in federal loans there, about $164 a month on a 10-year plan, roughly 2% of the median graduate's monthly earnings before tax (College Scorecard, graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20).
For context, mechanical engineers in New York are paid a median $102,440 a year across all experience levels (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), a figure for everyone in the job, not only recent graduates. mechanical engineers pay in New York
Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University, by credential
2 credential levels have federal figures, largest graduating classes first. Federal program group: Mechanical Engineering (CIP 14.19), which includes its related specialties.
| Credential | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings, 1 yr after | Earnings, 4 yrs after | vs national | Debt borrowed at this college | Total debt incl. other colleges | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 264 | $85,440 | $112,212 | +22% | $15,500 | $15,500 | $164/mo |
| Master's | 171 | $99,587 | $128,130 | +10% | $21,805 | — | $248/mo |
The one-year and four-year figures describe different graduating classes (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21 and 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23) in different dollars, so the gap between them is not one class's pay growth. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure because too few graduates were measured.
What the two debt figures mean
Federal debt borrowed at this college: the median of the federal loans (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS) that graduates who borrowed took out at this college.
Total federal debt, including other colleges attended: the same graduates' federal loans from every college they attended, counting only loans at the same level as this credential (undergraduate loans for an undergraduate credential, graduate loans for a graduate one).
Neither figure includes Parent PLUS loans, private loans or accrued interest. The two differ most for transfer students and for degree-completion programs such as RN-to-BSN. Monthly payment is for the debt borrowed at this college. Source: College Scorecard, Field of Study data documentation (September 2025), "Cumulative loan debt".
Cite this data
- Statistic
- Cornell University's bachelor's graduates in Mechanical Engineering earned a median $112,212 four years after graduating, against a national median of $92,135 for the same program and credential. The figure covers all 2 campuses that share the college's federal aid ID.
- Data period
- Graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19 who received federal aid, worked and were not enrolled; earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars (117 graduates measured).
- Source
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data (release of 10 June 2026)
- Page
- https://campuspin.com/schools/cornell-university/programs/mechanical-engineering
- Suggested citation
- CampusPin (2026). Cornell University Mechanical Engineering: graduate earnings and debt. Data: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study, 10 June 2026. https://campuspin.com/schools/cornell-university/programs/mechanical-engineering
Or paste these figures into your page as a small table (departments, admissions, counselors)
Plain HTML with no script and no tracking: each credential's figure with its period and source, and one link back to this page.
How does Cornell University compare with other New York Mechanical Engineering programs?
Across the 15 New York bachelor's programs in Mechanical Engineering with a federal earnings figure, the typical program's graduates earned $91,821; Cornell University's $112,212 is 22% above that.
| College (bachelor's) | Earnings, 4 yrs after | 1 yr after (later class) | Debt borrowed at this college |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell University (this college) | $112,212 | $85,440 | $15,500 |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | $111,491 | $72,036 | $10,057 |
| SUNY Maritime College | $106,932 | $77,895 | $25,064 |
| CUNY City College | $97,270 | $65,905 | $13,232 |
| University of Rochester | $95,060 | $73,828 | $21,000 |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | $93,065 | $76,263 | $27,000 |
| Manhattan College | $92,802 | $70,841 | $27,000 |
| New York University | $91,821 | $64,687 | $21,140 |
| Stony Brook University | $91,650 | $68,729 | $19,920 |
| Syracuse University | $91,438 | $66,789 | $27,000 |
The 10 highest of 15 New York programs, ordered by one federal measure (median earnings four years after graduating), not a ranking of program quality. Only programs with at least 30 graduates in the earnings cohort are listed.
. Compare Mechanical Engineering programs and share the result
What the new federal loan limits mean for this graduate program
For loans first disbursed on or after 1 July 2026, new graduate borrowers can take at most $20,500 a year and $100,000 in total in federal loans, or $50,000 and $200,000 in programs the Department treats as professional (Federal Student Aid, May 2026). Cornell University's master's graduates in Mechanical Engineering borrowed a median $21,805 under the old rules. Which graduate programs' typical debt is over the new caps.
Questions about Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University
- How much do Cornell University Mechanical Engineering graduates earn?
- Cornell University's bachelor's graduates in Mechanical Engineering earned a median $112,212 four years after graduating, 22% above the $92,135 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $85,440; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $15,500 in federal loans at this college (about $164 a month on a 10-year plan). The figure is reported for all 2 campuses that share Cornell University's federal aid ID. For context, mechanical engineers in New York are paid a median $102,440 a year across all experience levels (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), a figure for everyone in the job, not only recent graduates.
- How much student debt do Cornell University Mechanical Engineering graduates have?
- Cornell University's bachelor's graduates in Mechanical Engineering who borrowed took out a median $15,500 in federal loans at Cornell University, about $164 a month on a standard 10-year plan (graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20, College Scorecard). Neither figure includes Parent PLUS loans, private loans or accrued interest. The two differ most for transfer students and for degree-completion programs such as RN-to-BSN.
- How does Cornell University's Mechanical Engineering program compare with others in New York?
- Across the 15 New York bachelor's programs in Mechanical Engineering with a federal earnings figure, the typical program's graduates earned $91,821; Cornell University's $112,212 is 22% above that.
- Which Mechanical Engineering degree at Cornell University pays more?
- Median earnings four years after graduating, by credential: bachelor's $112,212; master's $128,130 (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). Each figure describes a different group of graduates, so the gap reflects who enrolls and the jobs each credential leads to, not only the credential.
Keep going
- Cornell University: cost, admissions and every program
- Mechanical Engineering major guide: what it pays nationally
- Same degree, different paycheck: how much the college matters
- What does Mechanical Engineering pay at other colleges?
Jobs Mechanical Engineering graduates often go into
From the Mechanical Engineeringmajor guide. Graduates spread across many jobs; these pay figures are for everyone in the job, not for this program's graduates.
Other programs at Cornell University with graduate earnings
- Agricultural Science
- Animal Science
- Food Science
- Conservation Science
- Urban Planning
- Communications
- Computer Science
- Agricultural Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- English & Literature
- Biology
- Mathematics
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Public Policy
- Economics
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Business Administration
- Hospitality Management
- Human Resource Management
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. The Department reports these figures for all 2 campuses that share Cornell University's federal aid ID, not for one campus alone. Earnings reflect who enrolls, where graduates live and the jobs they take, as well as the program itself. Download every program (CSV).
Data sources & methodology
Figures on this page come from the Department of Education's College Scorecard field-of-study file, matched to Cornell University by its federal UNITID.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
Program-level median earnings one and four years after completing, and median federal loan debt at completion, by institution, 4-digit CIP field and credential level.
College Scorecard, Field of Study data documentation
How the field-of-study cohorts are built, which graduates are counted, and how small cells are suppressed and perturbed for privacy.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (10 June 2026). Cornell University Mechanical Engineering: graduate earnings and debt. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/cornell-university/programs/mechanical-engineering