U.S. median for this major: $91,190.
College Scorecard field of study; 45 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 31% 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 $24,188. College Scorecard.
Western Kentucky University 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 Western Kentucky University'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 | $7,087 | $30,332 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $6,871 | $29,408 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $9,765 | $41,794 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $14,049 | $60,130 | 1.1 years |
| $110k+ | $17,653 | $75,555 | 1.4 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (42% 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 ($86,624) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in KY (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $53,108 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 Kentucky colleges
Every Kentucky 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 Kentucky | $90,654 | $25,000 | $18,851 | 71% |
| 2 | University of Louisville | $89,056 | $21,500 | $17,988 | 61% |
| 3 | Western Kentucky University | $86,624 | $27,000 | $10,990 | 56% |
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 Western Kentucky University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Western Kentucky University
- Acceptance rate: 94% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 56% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $43,889
- Full cost breakdown · all 80 majors · overview
Related majors at Western Kentucky University
- Electrical Engineering$85,772
- Civil Engineering$75,732
- Industrial Production Technologies / Technicians$86,033
Western Kentucky University Mechanical Engineering questions
How much do Western Kentucky University Mechanical Engineering graduates earn?
Mechanical Engineering graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median $86,624 four years after graduating and $70,722 one year after. The U.S. median for Mechanical Engineering graduates across 316 colleges is $91,190.
How much debt do Western Kentucky University Mechanical Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Mechanical Engineering graduates of Western Kentucky University is $27,000, about 31% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,876.
Is Western Kentucky University a good school for Mechanical Engineering in Kentucky?
On pay, Mechanical Engineering graduates of Western Kentucky University earn $86,624 four years out, $2,432 below the median for the same major across 3 Kentucky colleges ($89,056) and $4,566 below the U.S. median ($91,190). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Western Kentucky University rank for Mechanical Engineering in Kentucky?
Of 3 Kentucky colleges reporting Mechanical Engineering graduate earnings, Western Kentucky University ranks 3rd. The highest is University of Kentucky at $90,654.
What jobs do Mechanical Engineering graduates get?
A common career is mechanical engineer, with a median wage of $99,090 in the Bowling Green, KY area and $104,110 nationally. Others include cost estimators and architectural and engineering managers.
Is Western Kentucky University 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: “Western Kentucky University Mechanical Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-kentucky-university/majors/mechanical-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).