Mechanical Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology

Illinois Institute of Technology's mechanical engineering program charges more but delivers less than its in-state peers. Starting at $65,386, graduates earn about $4,000 below the Illinois median for mechanical engineers and roughly $5,000 below the national benchmark. That's 40th percentile within Illinois—meaning six other programs in the state produce better outcomes—including all the major public universities like U of I Urbana-Champaign ($80k) and UIC ($70k).

The $27,000 debt load is actually reasonable—lower than both state and national averages—but the earnings gap matters more. When your first job pays $65k instead of $70k, that difference compounds over time. The 25% earnings growth to $81k by year four is solid and suggests the degree does open doors eventually, but you're still playing catch-up to what graduates from other Illinois programs earned right out of the gate.

For a private institution with a 1296 average SAT and relatively selective admissions, these outcomes feel underwhelming. If your child has the credentials for IIT, they likely qualify for U of I Urbana-Champaign or UIC—both offering stronger earning potential at lower in-state tuition. Unless IIT is providing substantial merit aid or other compelling reasons to attend, the flagship public options appear to be the smarter financial bet for mechanical engineering.