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Mechanical Engineering bachelor's degree outcomes at Valparaiso University

Valparaiso, IN · Private nonprofit · Federal field 1419

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$1,552 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
29.8% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$68,958 / year
10-year scenario
+79% · Positive payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+22%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$68,265$83,142
Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
49Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
60Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$18,578

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$27,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$90,583

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$286/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$18,578Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$58,437Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE89.4%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE70.4%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$68,265Year 1
$90,583Year 4
$83,142Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.8% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$7,549
Estimated loan payment$286
60borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$90,583 vs. $92,135

$1,552 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Architectural and Engineering Managers$155,810 median wageIN estimate · 4,610 jobs · 11-9041+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 14.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAerospace Engineers$107,400 median wageIN estimate · 440 jobs · 17-2011+8.3% projected U.S. growth · 3.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEngineering Teachers, Postsecondary$106,010 median wageIN estimate · 1,500 jobs · 25-1032+7.8% projected U.S. growth · 3.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeMechanical Engineers$99,590 median wageIN estimate · 8,690 jobs · 17-2141+11.2% projected U.S. growth · 17.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCost Estimators$73,430 median wageIN estimate · 4,810 jobs · 13-1051-3.1% projected U.S. growth · 17.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University-Main Campus

$11,989 higher earnings · $7,063 less debt · $3,978 lower annual net price

Earnings
$102,572
Debt
$19,937
Annual net price
$14,600
View outcomes →
Hammond, IN

Purdue University Northwest

$646 higher earnings · $1,750 less debt · $12,499 lower annual net price

Earnings
$91,229
Debt
$25,250
Annual net price
$6,079
View outcomes →
Notre Dame, IN

University of Notre Dame

$9,276 higher earnings · $8,000 less debt

Earnings
$99,859
Debt
$19,000
Annual net price
$26,780
View outcomes →
Terre Haute, IN

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

$5,400 higher earnings · $1,388 less debt

Earnings
$95,983
Debt
$25,612
Annual net price
$42,513
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

49 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

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