U.S. median for this major: $91,190.
College Scorecard field of study; 32 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 30% 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 $75,481. College Scorecard.
The Catholic University of America Mechanical Engineering: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 District of Columbia colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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 The Catholic University of America'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 | $17,358 | $70,994 | 1.4 years |
| $30–48k | $17,895 | $73,191 | 1.4 years |
| $48–75k | $24,723 | $101,117 | 1.9 years |
| $75–110k | $28,295 | $115,727 | 2.2 years |
| $110k+ | $37,651 | $153,993 | 3.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (75% 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 ($90,355) minus $38,184 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in DC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $52,171 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 District of Columbia colleges
Every District of Columbia 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 | George Washington University | $101,196 | $21,500 | $36,586 | 84% |
| 2 | The Catholic University of America | $90,355 | $27,000 | $29,561 | 79% |
2 more District of Columbia 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 The Catholic University of America, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About The Catholic University of America
- Acceptance rate: 83% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 79% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $73,250
- Full cost breakdown · all 53 majors · overview
Related majors at The Catholic University of America
- Electrical Engineering—
- Civil Engineering$93,821
The Catholic University of America Mechanical Engineering questions
How much do The Catholic University of America Mechanical Engineering graduates earn?
Mechanical Engineering graduates of The Catholic University of America earn a median $90,355 four years after graduating and $76,409 one year after. The U.S. median for Mechanical Engineering graduates across 316 colleges is $91,190.
How much debt do The Catholic University of America Mechanical Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Mechanical Engineering graduates of The Catholic University of America is $27,000, about 30% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,876.
Where does The Catholic University of America rank for Mechanical Engineering in District of Columbia?
Of 2 District of Columbia colleges reporting Mechanical Engineering graduate earnings, The Catholic University of America ranks 2nd. The highest is George Washington University at $101,196.
What jobs do Mechanical Engineering graduates get?
A common career is mechanical engineer, with a median wage of $126,990 in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area and $104,110 nationally. Others include cost estimators and architectural and engineering managers.
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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: “The Catholic University of America Mechanical Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/the-catholic-university-of-america/majors/mechanical-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).