Mechanical Engineering at University of Rochester

Rochester's mechanical engineering grads earn $73,828 in their first year—about $7,000 above the national median and $5,400 above the typical New York program. That places them solidly in the 60th percentile among the state's 24 engineering schools, landing between RPI and Vaughn. The $21,000 median debt runs well below both national and state averages, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28 that most families would find manageable.

The concern here isn't the starting position but the trajectory. By year four, earnings tick up just 5% to $77,297—modest growth that suggests graduates may reach their earning ceiling faster than peers at Cornell or RIT, who start higher and likely climb further. For context, Rochester's selectivity (36% admission rate, 1480 SAT average) positions it as a reach school for many students, yet its engineering outcomes track closer to programs at less selective institutions.

For families paying private school tuition, this creates a decision point: you're getting respectable earnings and low debt, but possibly not the long-term earning power that justifies Rochester's sticker price over, say, a SUNY engineering program. If your child has strong merit aid or you value Rochester's smaller classes and research opportunities beyond pure salary, the math works. Without significant aid, SUNY or RIT might deliver similar financial outcomes at lower cost.