Mechanical Engineering at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

UNL's mechanical engineering program delivers exactly what you'd expect from a solid state flagship: graduates start at $71,318—right at the state median and slightly above the national benchmark of $70,744. With $24,000 in median debt, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 means students can realistically pay off loans within a few years while living comfortably on an engineer's salary. The earnings trajectory shows healthy growth to $77,056 by year four, suggesting graduates build valuable experience that employers reward.

The 77% admission rate makes this accessible for most serious applicants, and the robust sample size (100+ graduates) means these numbers reliably reflect actual outcomes. Since this is the only mechanical engineering program in Nebraska, in-state students get straightforward value: pay in-state tuition rates for outcomes that match or slightly exceed national norms. The 54th percentile ranking nationally means you're getting middle-of-the-pack results among nearly 400 programs—neither elite nor disappointing.

For Nebraska families, this is a safe bet. Your child will graduate with manageable debt and immediate access to a $70,000+ career, without the risk of chasing marginally better outcomes at out-of-state prices. It's not MIT, but it doesn't pretend to be—and for most students, that's exactly the right choice.