Mechanical Engineering at University of New Orleans (The)
LA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 14.19
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Mechanical Engineering degree from University of New Orleans (The) earn a median salary of $97,375 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in LA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $105,498. The degree typically pays for itself in 3.8 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$79,345
Typical Career
$97,375
Top Performers
$119,184
Estimated break-even: 3.8 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$649
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $8,115. Most students can comfortably afford about a $649 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 2.5x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.3x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Louisiana buys what costs $0.92 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Educational Services, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Health Care & Social Assistance.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$105,498
Nominal: $97,375 in Louisiana (COL 92.3% of national avg) · 8.3% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $53,647 | $70,466 | $85,400 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $79,345 | $97,375 | $119,184 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $93,321 | $121,288 | $154,229 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $97,375 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in LA, which has a cost-of-living index of 92.3% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $97,375 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9230)
= $105,498 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates include Educational Services (14.7%), Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (14.4%), and Health Care & Social Assistance (12.1%). Given the estimated break-even point of approximately 3.8 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing a Mechanical Engineering degree appears favorable. This suggests that students can expect not only substantial earnings but also a solid foundation for career advancement in diverse fields.
Compare with Another School
See how the Mechanical Engineering degree at University of New Orleans (The) stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Mechanical Engineering at University of New Orleans (The).
Explore More
Other Degrees at University of New Orleans (The)
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.