Manufacturing Engineering: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 15 reporting college programs.
+$180,940 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.
Observed national outcomes
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.
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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Northwestern University$97,8192National University$97,5253Grand Valley State University$95,4164California State Polytechnic University-Pomona$93,0425Brigham Young University$92,1226Dunwoody College of Technology$90,1767Texas State University$88,9958Bradley University$88,6909University of Wisconsin-Stout$87,43110Arizona State University Campus Immersion$85,911Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Evanston, IL | $97,819 | Not available | +78% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | National UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $97,525 | Not available | +93% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Grand Valley State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Allendale, MI | $95,416 | $26,000 | +106% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | California State Polytechnic University-PomonaBachelor's Degree | Pomona, CA | $93,042 | $17,083 | +112% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Brigham Young UniversityBachelor's Degree | Provo, UT | $92,122 | $11,000 | +95% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Dunwoody College of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $90,176 | $34,996 | +57% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Texas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, TX | $88,995 | $21,375 | +78% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Bradley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Peoria, IL | $88,690 | $27,000 | +61% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin-StoutBachelor's Degree | Menomonie, WI | $87,431 | $29,814 | +70% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $85,911 | $24,253 | +71% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Oregon State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Corvallis, OR | $85,369 | $21,457 | +56% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBachelor's Degree | Bend, OR | $85,369 | $21,457 | +60% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | Western Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bellingham, WA | $85,314 | $21,425 | +52% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | Ferris State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Big Rapids, MI | $80,996 | $18,500 | +68% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | Robert Morris UniversityBachelor's Degree | Moon Township, PA | $74,446 | Not available | +8% | Positive payoff |
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.