Mechanical Engineering at University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame mechanical engineering graduates earn $85,000 in their first year—about $20,000 more than the national median and $16,000 above Indiana's average. That puts this program in the 95th percentile nationally, though it trails Purdue's top-ranked program by about $5,000. The $19,000 median debt is notably lower than both national ($24,755) and state ($25,431) averages, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.22. Graduates can realistically pay off their loans in a few months of work.

The modest 5% earnings growth over four years is less impressive than the strong starting salary, but the trade-off works in graduates' favor: you're already near the top of the pay scale early in your career. At an elite institution with a 12% acceptance rate, you're getting both the Notre Dame network and solid financial returns, though Purdue offers comparable outcomes at a likely lower sticker price for in-state students.

For families who can manage Notre Dame's tuition, this represents a safe bet—elite degree credentials paired with practical engineering skills and minimal debt burden. Indiana residents should run the numbers carefully against Purdue, but out-of-state students get strong value here without the debt nightmares common at prestigious private schools.