Engineering, Other: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Engineering, Other graduates earn a median $93,989 four years after finishing — $45,629/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 1.5 years. Federal data pools 67 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 867 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Engineering, Other ranks #14 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 94% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University | CA | $115,206 |
| 2 | Northeastern University | MA | $112,019 |
| 3 | Louisiana Tech University | LA | $105,080 |
| 4 | Massachusetts Maritime Academy | MA | $104,007 |
| 5 | California State University-Chico | CA | $103,272 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | PA | $102,134 |
| 7 | Stevens Institute of Technology | NJ | $99,691 |
| 8 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | OH | $97,144 |
| 9 | Oregon State University | OR | $94,278 |
| 10 | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus | OR | $94,278 |
| 11 | University of Maryland-College Park | MD | $92,653 |
| 12 | Mississippi State University | MS | $91,124 |
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.
How fast does Engineering, Other pay grow after graduation?
From $71,549 one year out to $93,989 four years out — a $22,440 climb, or 31% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in Engineering, Other each year?
About 867 bachelor's graduates a year across 67 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.