Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians graduates earn a median $82,073 four years after finishing — $33,713/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,906/yr net price ($67,624 over four years), that pays back in about 2 years. Federal data pools 98 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 2,579 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians ranks #47 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 77% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | MA | $120,219 |
| 2 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | CO | $98,267 |
| 3 | Wayne State University | MI | $97,257 |
| 4 | Farmingdale State College | NY | $91,941 |
| 5 | University of Maine | ME | $91,879 |
| 6 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | CA | $91,230 |
| 7 | Central Connecticut State University | CT | $90,472 |
| 8 | Art Center College of Design | CA | $90,188 |
| 9 | American Public University System | WV | $89,871 |
| 10 | Western New England University | MA | $89,642 |
| 11 | New England Institute of Technology | RI | $88,991 |
| 12 | Oregon Institute of Technology | OR | $88,036 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.