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What can you do with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Penn State University?

First, some facts. Of the Mechanical Engineering graduates from Penn State University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 87 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 82%, Mechanical Engineering graduates from Penn State University have a much higher likelihood (+15%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 82%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 19% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Mechanical Engineering graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Mechanical Engineering graduate from Penn State University and our analysis:

Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2020 from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Mechanical Engineering. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Interfacial Phenomena Lab Summer Internship
Penn State College of Engineering
May 2020 - Aug 2020
The Summer Internship at the Interfacial Phenomena Lab directly applies mechanical engineering principles and skills, making it highly relevant to the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

ABOUT

Pursuing full-time employment in the field of Mechanical Engineering

What jobs can you get with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Penn State University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

When analyzing the career trajectories of graduates from Penn State University’s Mechanical Engineering program, we see a diverse range of jobs held by individuals over the years. Many of these positions utilize some aspects of mechanical engineering, but not all of them are directly related to the core principles of the field. The most common types of jobs that people have transitioned into include roles in engineering management, product management, quality assurance, and various types of engineering roles, such as test engineering, systems engineering, and mechanical engineering itself.

Interestingly, a significant portion of graduates has moved into roles such as business analyst, operations analyst, and management positions—particularly at companies like Capital One. These positions generally revolve around data management, business strategies, or operational efficiencies, and lack a strong need for mechanical engineering expertise. However, some transferable skills from engineering, like analytical thinking and problem-solving, may still come into play. This trend suggests that while these graduates have the potential to enter purely engineering roles, many have chosen—or felt compelled—to explore broader business avenues. On the flip side, there are numerous instances where graduates have secured positions directly relevant to mechanical engineering, such as mechanical engineers at companies like Ford, Lockheed Martin, and GE Aviation. These roles leverage the specific knowledge and skills acquired during their degree, demonstrating a successful application of their education in the field.

Overall, it appears that while a good range of graduates successfully finds relevant employment in mechanical engineering roles, there is a notable number who drift into management and analytical roles that don’t directly tap into their specific engineering training. This diversification can be seen as an asset; however, it also raises questions about how well the program prepares students for the engineering job market versus the broader business landscape. In conclusion, the outcomes for Penn State Mechanical Engineering graduates are mixed; while many are thriving in engineering roles, others have veered into unrelated fields, making their jobs less relevant to their undergraduate training.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Mechanical Engineering graduates (this is across all Mechanical Engineering graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Penn State University):

What kind of career trajectories do Mechanical Engineering graduates from Penn State University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When we look at the career trajectories of Penn State University's Mechanical Engineering graduates, it's pretty clear that they have generally found themselves in solid engineering roles right after graduation. Starting in positions like mechanical engineer, systems engineer, and design engineer, many of these graduates have quickly advanced in their careers. For instance, graduates from around the 2010s were commonly landing jobs in established companies like Lockheed Martin, Ford, and General Motors, which is a great sign of the strength of their education and the demand for engineering skills in the industry.

Fast forward about 5 years after graduating, and we can see that many of these individuals have progressed into roles that show not just stability but significant career growth. For example, some who started as engineers have transitioned to leadership positions or specialized roles, such as Senior Engineers or Project Managers. The pathways taken by graduates like those from 2012 to 2015 show a pattern of climbing the corporate ladder and taking on higher-level responsibilities. A lot of them are still in engineering but are often managing teams or projects, which suggests that they're very much utilizing their engineering backgrounds in various capacities.

When we look at a 10-year outlook, many graduates remain in the engineering field but have taken on significant leadership roles, such as engineering managers, directors, or senior project engineers. The alumni from 2010 onward show a mix of advanced technical positions as well as managerial roles, often indicating their ability to adapt to various sectors, be it aerospace, automotive, or even energy. While it's evident that some graduates have veered into roles that aren’t strictly traditional engineering – like business analysts or operations managers – the reality is that these positions still leverage analytical and technical skills honed during their degree.

On the flip side, while the majority of graduates appear to have landed in relevant and successful careers, there are a few who’ve taken different turns, such as moving into sales, business operations, or starting their own companies. This might point to a broader trend where a mechanical engineering degree opens doors to various fields beyond just engineering itself. Overall, it seems that a degree from Penn State not only opens up many doors but also sets a solid foundation for a range of successful career trajectories in the engineering realm and beyond.

How hard is a Mechanical Engineering degree from Penn State University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, including at Penn State, is generally considered pretty challenging. You’ll dive into a mix of advanced math, physics, and hands-on projects that really push your problem-solving skills. While some students find the coursework engaging and manageable, others might struggle with the intense workload and technical concepts, especially when it comes to subjects like thermodynamics or fluid mechanics. Penn State has a solid reputation, so you can expect competitive coursework, which can make it feel tougher than an average degree. If you’re passionate about engineering and ready to put in the effort, though, it can definitely be a rewarding experience!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Do Mechanical Engineering graduates from Penn State University tend to make good money?

From the LinkedIn profiles of these Penn State Mechanical Engineering graduates, it really looks like they're doing well in their careers. Many of the graduates have landed positions at companies known for competitive salaries, like Lockheed Martin, Ford, and NASA. Those who graduated in the earlier years from 2010 to 2014 seem to have climbed the ladder significantly, often moving into senior management roles or specializing in niche engineering fields, which typically come with hefty paychecks. For instance, a graduate who went from a Business Analyst to a Senior Business Director at Capital One likely saw their salary increase dramatically over the years.

Even newer grads from 2022 and 2023 are getting solid starts in their careers, securing roles at reputable companies like Boeing and General Electric. The variety in their career paths showcases how versatile a Mechanical Engineering degree can be, leading to jobs in different industries that also pay well. Overall, it seems like these Penn State Engineering alumni are doing just fine money-wise, confirming that pursuing engineering can lead to a financially rewarding career.

What buzzwords do Mechanical Engineering graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering (this is across all Mechanical Engineering graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Penn State University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Mechanical Engineering?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering (ordered by the average relevance score of their Mechanical Engineering graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
North Dakota State University 95 20
University of Tennessee, Knoxville 94 12
University of Michigan-Dearborn 94 11
University of Minnesota 93 14
University of Illinois at Chicago 93 13
Binghamton University 93 14
University of Minnesota Duluth 93 15
Oregon Institute of Technology 93 12
Minnesota State University, Mankato 92 10
Wright State University 92 15
University of Delaware 91 24
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 91 23
University of Massachusetts Lowell 91 30
University of Maryland Baltimore County 91 19
University of Wisconsin-Platteville 91 23
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 91 11
Kettering University 91 27
The University of Alabama 90 37
University at Buffalo 90 19
University of Colorado Denver 90 12
University of North Dakota 90 10
University of North Florida 89 14
Washington University in St. Louis 89 15
University of Oklahoma 88 19
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 88 29
Lamar University 88 18
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 88 24
Iowa State University 87 65
Portland State University 87 16
UC Irvine 87 16
Oakland University 87 24
Worcester Polytechnic Institute 87 42
Texas A&M University-Kingsville 87 11
Florida International University 86 17
University of Wisconsin-Madison 86 31
San Jose State University 86 23
Temple University 86 19
Brigham Young University - Idaho 86 19
Northern Arizona University 86 20
University of Kentucky 86 24
Ferris State University 86 11
University of South Carolina-Columbia 86 13
Wentworth Institute of Technology 86 18
University of Tehran 86 10
University of Arizona 85 19
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 85 51
California State University-Sacramento 85 22
Kansas State University 85 34
Baylor University 85 22
University of Nevada, Reno 85 16
Villanova University 85 18
Michigan Technological University 85 51
University of New Orleans 85 14
Shanghai Jiao Tong University 85 10
Brigham Young University 84 40
San Diego State University 84 22
Washington State University 84 43
University of Utah 84 23
University of South Carolina 84 14
California State University, Long Beach 84 15
University of Massachusetts Amherst 84 13
University of Louisville 84 19
Utah State University 84 26
Montana State University-Bozeman 84 41
University of California, Los Angeles 83 20
Auburn University 83 26
Oregon State University 83 46
University of Pittsburgh 83 33
Northeastern University 83 43
Boise State University 83 18
The University of Kansas 83 10
University of Alabama 83 15
The University of Akron 83 36
Indiana UniversityPurdue University Indianapolis 83 12
University of Idaho 83 15
University of South Alabama 83 13
University of Toledo 83 27
Missouri University of Science and Technology 83 30
University of Portland 83 19
Clarkson University 83 33
University of Michigan College of Engineering 83 10
Penn State University 82 87
University of Florida 82 53
Michigan State University 82 42
Purdue University 82 91
North Carolina State University 82 44
Louisiana State University 82 24
University of California, Riverside 82 20
Drexel University 82 38
University of Dayton 82 36
Florida Institute of Technology 82 10
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology 82 10
Arizona State University 81 38
University of Washington 81 24
University of Houston 81 46
Colorado State University 81 27
Texas Tech University 81 50
University of Cincinnati 81 23
California State University, Fullerton 81 19
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 81 30
University of Maryland 81 27
Old Dominion University 81 30
Rowan University 81 14
Rutgers University 81 12
San Diego State University-California State University 81 10
University of Louisiana at Lafayette 81 32
University of Maine 81 19
Lehigh University 81 17
Purdue University Northwest 81 13
University of Central Florida 80 72
University of South Florida 80 27
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 80 49
The University of Texas at San Antonio 80 29
The University of Texas at Arlington 80 23
West Virginia University 80 20
University of Arkansas 80 20
Georgia Southern University 80 20
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 80 13
University of California, Merced 80 21
Arkansas Tech University 80 10
The Ohio State University 79 48
University of Missouri-Columbia 79 24
Clemson University 79 35
California State University-Long Beach 79 18
Georgia Institute of Technology 79 88
The University of Texas at Dallas 79 31
University of Maryland College Park 79 20
Mississippi State University 79 35
Cornell University 79 21
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 79 20
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale 79 12
Rochester Institute of Technology 79 42
California State University, Chico 79 10
Tennessee Technological University 79 13
Louisiana Tech University 79 13
Colorado School of Mines 79 53
Bucknell University 79 12
Valparaiso University 79 13
Lafayette College 79 14
University of California, Davis 78 32
University of Michigan 78 37
University of Colorado Boulder 78 42
Oklahoma State University 78 39
Miami University 78 14
Kennesaw State University 78 15
University of Rhode Island 78 12
The University of Texas at El Paso 78 28
University of Massachusetts, Amherst 78 14
Stanford University 78 10
University of Colorado Colorado Springs 78 10
University of Denver 78 12
Stevens Institute of Technology 78 20
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College 78 24
Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani 78 13
Ohio University 77 15
University of Connecticut 77 19
UC Santa Barbara 77 13
University of California, Irvine 77 10
Eastern Washington University 77 13
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 77 34
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 77 11
Carnegie Mellon University 77 14
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 77 25
University of Georgia College of Engineering 77 11
Virginia Tech 76 35
University of Nevada-Las Vegas 76 19
University of Mississippi 76 14
University of Hawaii at Manoa 76 12
Wichita State University 76 12
Gonzaga University 76 12
University of Rochester 76 13
Prairie View A&M University 76 15
Manhattan College 76 14
Texas A&M University 75 76
University of California, Berkeley 75 17
University of Southern California 75 19
Boston University 75 16
University of New Hampshire 75 16
Bradley University 75 16
SUNY Polytechnic Institute 75 11
Florida Atlantic University 74 11
California State University, Northridge 74 11
University of Texas at Tyler 74 13
The University of Toledo 74 12
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 74 16
Northwestern University 73 16
New Jersey Institute of Technology 73 32
The University of Texas at Austin 72 44
Milwaukee School of Engineering 72 16
Auburn University, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering 71 10
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 70 29
University of Virginia 70 20
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 70 18
University of California, San Diego 70 10
The College of New Jersey 70 10
New Mexico State University 70 18
Savitribai Phule Pune University 70 28
Florida State University 69 11
Visvesvaraya Technological University 69 13
University of Notre Dame 68 17
Tufts University 68 11
SRM University 68 11
Northern Illinois University 67 13
Vanderbilt University 66 15
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University 66 14
University of Mumbai 66 24
University of North Texas 65 10
United States Naval Academy 64 16
Rice University 63 10
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 62 10
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University 60 16
Vellore Institute of Technology 59 18
Anna University 55 13
Osmania University 50 12
United States Military Academy at West Point 48 10