Compare 6 Mechanical Engineering. programs in Colorado. Average earnings: $80,826.
With top graduates earning $87,148, Mechanical Engineering stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $7K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
University Of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus leads with graduates earning $87,148, well above the state average of $80,826. Colorado State University-Fort Collins follows at $83,877, with its larger cohort of 218 students proving that strong outcomes can scale. The Colorado School Of Mines rounds out the top three at $83,162.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University Of Colorado Denver graduates borrow $20,500 and face just a 4.4% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. However, when parent loans are included, family debt reaches $42,216 with a 9.7% burden—still in the 'Good' range.
Highest program earnings: $87,148
Strong outcomes with 78% acceptance
4.4% payment burden | Excellent
9.7% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $87,148 | 69 | $20,500 | Excellent | $21,716 | Good | |
| #2 | $83,877 | 218 | $20,000 | Excellent | $36,000 | Manageable | |
| #3 | Colorado School Of MinesPublic | $83,162 | 313 | $23,000 | Excellent | $53,505 | Challenging |
| #4 | $82,040 | 292 | $19,500 | Excellent | $46,340 | Manageable | |
| #5 | University Of DenverPrivate | $78,459 | 39 | $21,844 | Excellent | $27,813 | Manageable |
| #6 | $70,270 | 119 | $20,000 | Excellent | $21,710 | Manageable |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
