Mechanical Engineering bachelor's degree outcomes at Montana State University

Bozeman, MT · Public · 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.

$3,482 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 28.2% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $64,133 / year
10-year scenario: +62% · 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.

+35%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$68,469 → $92,132

—Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

42Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

116Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

148Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$21,605Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

—Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$22,499

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

02 · BORROWING$25,011

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$88,653

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$265/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$22,499Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$25,905Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE82.1%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE57.1%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.

$68,469Year 1

$88,653Year 4

$92,132Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.6% 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$7,388

Estimated loan payment$265

148borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$88,653 vs. $92,135

$3,482 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$146,030 median wageMT estimate · 560 jobs · 11-9041+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 14.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAerospace Engineers$134,960 median wageU.S. estimate · 67,710 jobs · 17-2011+8.3% projected U.S. growth · 3.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEngineering Teachers, Postsecondary$101,170 median wageMT estimate · 280 jobs · 25-1032+7.8% projected U.S. growth · 3.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeMechanical Engineers$94,190 median wageMT estimate · 500 jobs · 17-2141+11.2% projected U.S. growth · 17.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCost Estimators$77,320 median wageMT estimate · 1,230 jobs · 13-1051-3.1% projected U.S. growth · 17.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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