Mechanical Engineering at The Catholic University of America

Catholic University's mechanical engineering program posts strong national numbers—$76,409 in first-year earnings places it in the 85th percentile nationally and comes with just $27,000 in debt. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35, meaning graduates earn back their entire debt in under five months. The earnings trajectory also looks stable, rising to $80,518 by year four. On paper, this outperforms most mechanical engineering programs across the country.

The Washington, DC context tells a different story. Among the four schools offering mechanical engineering in the district, Catholic ranks in the 40th percentile for earnings—below both the DC median of $79,385 and George Washington University's $82,361. The gap isn't dramatic, but it's real, and it suggests DC's engineering market offers premium opportunities that Catholic grads aren't fully capturing. That said, the debt advantage ($27,000 versus DC's $24,250 median) helps narrow the overall value proposition.

The small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates—means these numbers could shift significantly with more data. For families comparing DC engineering options, Catholic delivers solid national outcomes at a manageable debt level, but George Washington might be worth the cost difference if your student can gain admission. If Catholic's your choice, you're getting a program that performs well beyond national standards, just not at the top of its local market.