Mechanical Engineering at Bucknell University

Bucknell's mechanical engineering program launches graduates into strong starting salaries—$79,391 puts them ahead of 95% of programs nationally and ahead of Penn State, Drexel, and Lehigh. With debt under $20,000, graduates face one of the lowest debt burdens you'll find for engineering, giving them immediate financial flexibility that many of their peers won't have. The 0.25 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates could theoretically pay off their entire debt in three months of gross income.

However, the smaller sample size here matters. With fewer than 30 graduates reporting, these numbers could shift significantly year to year. While Bucknell edges out Carnegie Mellon in starting salary, it trails Villanova slightly—and within Pennsylvania generally, this program sits at the 60th percentile, suggesting it's competitive but not dominant in-state. The 10% earnings growth to year four is solid though not spectacular for engineering.

For families who can manage Bucknell's tuition (only 11% of students receive Pell grants, indicating limited financial aid for middle-income families), the low debt load is the real win here. Your child would graduate with strong earning potential and minimal financial burden, though you're paying a premium for a program that performs well but not exceptionally among Pennsylvania's engineering schools.