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MASTER'S DEGREE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 1499

Engineering, Other: is this master's degree worth it?

National picture across 16 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$115,690 in median year-4 earnings

A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.

$115,690Median year-4 earnings

$24,338Average institution net-price context

Not availableMedian federal debt

Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$115,690Median reported earnings · year 4

$148,283Average reported earnings · year 5

Not availableMedian federal debt

81thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

16Reporting programs

16With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

The same field can produce a different equation.

Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.

OPEN PROFILE

Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma

Year-4 earnings: $108,995
Federal debt: $27,000
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $94,278
Federal debt: $22,875
Reporting programs: 21

19 report earnings →CURRENT VIEW

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $115,690
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 16

16 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Doctoral Degree

Year-4 earnings: $113,720
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Graduate/Professional Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $84,820
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

Where the middle half of programs lands

Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.

Median

25th percentile$105,945National median$115,69075th percentile$140,404

16 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Northwestern University$211,469 2University of California, San Diego$158,915 3University of Southern California$150,717 4University of Minnesota-Twin Cities$141,008 5Purdue University-Main Campus$140,404 6Old Dominion University$125,132 7University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$117,702 8Northeastern University$116,924 9Clemson University$114,455 10Worcester Polytechnic Institute$114,409

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Architectural and Engineering ManagersSOC 11-9041 · 1 crosswalk linksEngineering Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1032 · 1 crosswalk linksEngineers, All OtherSOC 17-2199 · 1 crosswalk linksHealth and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and InspectorsSOC 17-2111 · 1 crosswalk links

BEST COLLEGES FOR ENGINEERING, OTHER

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.

#	College	Location	Earnings, year 4	Federal debt	ROI status	Cost context
1	Northwestern UniversityMaster's Degree	Evanston, IL	$211,469	Not available	Baseline needed	$29,167
2	University of California, San DiegoMaster's Degree	La Jolla, CA	$158,915	Not available	Baseline needed	$12,470
3	University of Southern CaliforniaMaster's Degree	Los Angeles, CA	$150,717	Not available	Baseline needed	$32,740
4	University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMaster's Degree	Minneapolis, MN	$141,008	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,778
5	Purdue University-Main CampusMaster's Degree	West Lafayette, IN	$140,404	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,600
6	Old Dominion UniversityMaster's Degree	Norfolk, VA	$125,132	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,638
7	University of Michigan-Ann ArborMaster's Degree	Ann Arbor, MI	$117,702	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,138
8	Northeastern UniversityMaster's Degree	Boston, MA	$116,924	Not available	Baseline needed	$30,915
9	Clemson UniversityMaster's Degree	Clemson, SC	$114,455	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,253
10	Worcester Polytechnic InstituteMaster's Degree	Worcester, MA	$114,409	Not available	Baseline needed	$43,071
11	Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusMaster's Degree	University Park, PA	$107,278	Not available	Baseline needed	$32,875
12	Pennsylvania State University-World CampusMaster's Degree	University Park, PA	$107,278	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,550
13	Villanova UniversityMaster's Degree	Villanova, PA	$105,945	Not available	Baseline needed	$43,756
14	Alabama A&M UniversityMaster's Degree	Normal, AL	$103,898	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,621
15	University of DaytonMaster's Degree	Dayton, OH	$96,014	Not available	Baseline needed	$29,533
16	Missouri University of Science and TechnologyMaster's Degree	Rolla, MO	$90,792	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,298

This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.