What can you do with a Mechanical Engineering degree from University of Connecticut?

First, some facts. Of the Mechanical Engineering graduates from University of Connecticut 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 19 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 77%, Mechanical Engineering graduates from University of Connecticut have a higher likelihood (+10%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 77%
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 10% 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 University of Connecticut and our analysis:


Relevance score: 73%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2010 from University of Connecticut with a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Assistant Project Manager
Westinghouse Electric Company
Aug 2010 - Jun 2011
The role of Assistant Project Manager does not require mechanical engineering knowledge or skills, as it primarily focuses on project management tasks outside of engineering specifics.

Design Engineer
GE Vernova
Jun 2011 - Jan 2015
As a Design Engineer, this position directly applies mechanical engineering principles and skills, making it highly relevant to the Bachelors degree.

Lead Design Engineer
GE Vernova
Jan 2015 - Jan 2020
The role of Lead Design Engineer involves advanced engineering design, utilizing core mechanical engineering knowledge, and is thus highly relevant.

Project Operations Leader
GE Vernova
Apr 2017 - Jan 2020
While Project Operations Leader requires some understanding of engineering principles, the focus is more on operations and management rather than direct engineering application.

Project Execution Leader
GE Vernova
Jan 2020 - Aug 2021
The position of Project Execution Leader may involve coordination within engineering projects, but it is more operational than technical, leading to a moderate relevance score.

Generator Requisition and Application Engineering Manager
GE Vernova
Aug 2021 - Jul 2023
Generator Requisition and Application Engineering Manager requires some engineering knowledge, but the core skills needed for the role lean more towards project management and application, making it moderately relevant.

Agile Upgrades ITR Engineering Manager
GE Vernova
Jul 2023 - Present
Agile Upgrades ITR Engineering Manager may involve engineering concepts but is primarily focused on project and process management rather than hands-on engineering tasks, resulting in moderate relevance.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Masters Degree
Georgia Institute of Technology
2013 - 2016
ABOUT

Engineering Leader with 12 years of diversified experience leading cross functional teams in product development, process improvements and digital initiatives. Well versed in managing and motivating teams to provide timely, high quality and meaningful results. Proven aptitude for clearly communicating to both internal and external customers. Creative, systems-level thinker dedicated to finding the most efficient solution for any problem.

What jobs can you get with a Mechanical Engineering degree from University of Connecticut?

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


From the LinkedIn analysis of graduates with a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Connecticut, it’s clear that many of the most popular job roles involve positions directly related to engineering, particularly in design and project management. Many alumni ended up working at well-known companies like Pratt & Whitney and Sikorsky, where positions such as Design Engineer, Project Leader, and Manufacturing Engineer were common. These roles often require a solid grasp of mechanical principles and the application of engineering skills, showing a strong connection between their studies and their careers.

However, not every job listed was relevant to mechanical engineering. Some alumni took paths that diverged from traditional engineering roles, opting for positions in project management, data analysis, or even marketing, which do not necessarily utilize the technical skills gained during their education. While roles like Data Analyst or Assistant Project Manager may have elements of problem-solving, they often lack the direct application of mechanical engineering principles. Overall, the evidence highlights that graduates often find opportunities closely aligned with their degree, but there's also a noticeable number who branch out into fields less related to the core of mechanical engineering.

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 University of Connecticut):

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

Looking at these career trajectories of Mechanical Engineering graduates from the University of Connecticut, it's pretty clear that a lot of them kick off their careers in solid engineering roles right after graduation. Many of the grads land positions as design engineers, project managers, or systems engineers at well-known companies like Pratt & Whitney, GE, and Lockheed Martin. This initial jump into engineering shows that the education they received set them up for success in fields that directly relate to their degree. It’s encouraging to see that these first jobs tend to align closely with what they studied, suggesting a strong connection between their academic training and career paths.

Fast forward five or ten years, and you see a lot of these graduates remaining within the engineering field, often climbing the ranks to more senior positions like project leaders, engineering managers, or specialized technical roles. For instance, many have transitioned from entry-level roles to leadership positions within major companies, indicating growth and commitment to their engineering careers. While there are a few individuals who have ventured into unrelated paths—like data analytics or starting their own businesses—the majority seem to be thriving in mechanical engineering or closely related fields. Overall, the data points to a positive trend for UConn Mechanical Engineering grads, showcasing a solid foundation for building substantial careers in engineering over time.

How hard is a Mechanical Engineering degree from University of Connecticut?

Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering is generally considered pretty challenging, and UConn is no exception. You’ll dive deep into subjects like thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and materials science, which can get pretty intense. The workload involves a mix of tough math, physics, and hands-on projects, so you’ll need to stay organized and dedicated—you can't just coast through. That said, if you’re genuinely interested in how things work and enjoy solving problems, you might find it a rewarding challenge. It's definitely not the easiest degree out there, but if you stay on top of your studies and collaborate with classmates, you can definitely make it through!

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 University of Connecticut tend to make good money?

Looking over these UConn Mechanical Engineering grads, it seems like most of them have likely made decent money throughout their careers, especially those who landed jobs at well-known companies like Pratt & Whitney, GE, and Lockheed Martin. Many started off with solid entry-level positions and transitioned into higher roles like Team Lead, Manager, or Senior Engineer—not to mention those who are already in positions that come with good salaries. While some earlier career choices, like a barista stint, might not be the highest paying gig, it looks like those jobs were just stepping stones. Overall, if they stay on this path, they’re probably doing pretty well for themselves financially!

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 University of Connecticut). 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