U.S. median for this major: $91,190.
College Scorecard field of study; 28 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 33% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $24,876.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $23,995. College Scorecard.
Minnesota State University-Mankato Mechanical Engineering: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Mechanical Engineering nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Minnesota State University-Mankato's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $12,339 | $55,279 | 1.2 years |
| $30–48k | $12,750 | $57,120 | 1.2 years |
| $48–75k | $15,137 | $67,814 | 1.4 years |
| $75–110k | $18,921 | $84,766 | 1.8 years |
| $110k+ | $22,798 | $102,135 | 2.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (33% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Mechanical Engineering graduates 4 years after graduating ($85,286) minus $38,184 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $47,102 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Mechanical Engineering at Minnesota colleges
Every Minnesota college we cover that reports Mechanical Engineering graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of St Thomas | $91,683 | $27,000 | $29,155 | 76% |
| 2 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | $90,061 | $22,077 | $16,778 | 85% |
| 3 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | $88,965 | $27,000 | $18,743 | 65% |
| 4 | Saint Cloud State University | $87,503 | $27,090 | $13,529 | 40% |
| 5 | Minnesota State University-Mankato | $85,286 | $27,886 | $19,139 | 54% |
2 more Minnesota colleges offer Mechanical Engineering but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Mechanical Engineering graduates
Mechanical engineer
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +11.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Cost Estimators
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -3.1% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Minnesota State University-Mankato, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Minnesota State University-Mankato
- Acceptance rate: 88% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 54% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $56,922
- Full cost breakdown · all 80 majors · overview
Related majors at Minnesota State University-Mankato
- Electrical Engineering$85,655
- Civil Engineering$74,989
- Engineering$82,903
- Industrial Production Technologies / Technicians$83,115
Minnesota State University-Mankato Mechanical Engineering questions
How much do Minnesota State University-Mankato Mechanical Engineering graduates earn?
Mechanical Engineering graduates of Minnesota State University-Mankato earn a median $85,286 four years after graduating and $68,919 one year after. The U.S. median for Mechanical Engineering graduates across 316 colleges is $91,190.
How much debt do Minnesota State University-Mankato Mechanical Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Mechanical Engineering graduates of Minnesota State University-Mankato is $27,886, about 33% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,876.
Is Minnesota State University-Mankato a good school for Mechanical Engineering in Minnesota?
On pay, Mechanical Engineering graduates of Minnesota State University-Mankato earn $85,286 four years out, $3,679 below the median for the same major across 5 Minnesota colleges ($88,965) and $5,904 below the U.S. median ($91,190). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Minnesota State University-Mankato rank for Mechanical Engineering in Minnesota?
Of 5 Minnesota colleges reporting Mechanical Engineering graduate earnings, Minnesota State University-Mankato ranks 5th. The highest is University of St Thomas at $91,683.
What jobs do Mechanical Engineering graduates get?
A common career is mechanical engineer, with a median wage of $101,350 in the Mankato, MN area and $104,110 nationally. Others include cost estimators and architectural and engineering managers.
Is Minnesota State University-Mankato the right fit for your family?
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Minnesota State University-Mankato Mechanical Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/minnesota-state-university-mankato/majors/mechanical-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).