Columbia University in the City of New York — New York, NY

Mechanical Engineering

at Columbia University in the City of New York · New York, NY

Exceptional Value

Go for it

The Bottom Line

↑Grads earn about $69,826/yr starting out — that's 133% more than skipping college
⏱Takes about 2.4 years to earn back what you spent
$Students on financial aid pay about $21,590/yr after grants & scholarships (varies by family income) — $94,195 total with loan interest

Listed Price

$89,472/yr

Starting Salary

$69,826

Finish Rate

96.1%

$89,472/yr

Full sticker price — tuition, housing, and fees before any aid

Students on financial aid pay $21,590/yr after grants & scholarships (saves $67,882/yr)

4 Years Total

$357,888

Typical Debt

$21,500

Interest You'd Owe

+$7,835

What You'd Really Pay

$94,195

That's about $244/month for 10 years after you graduate

You'd earn (with degree)$698,260

Without college$300,000

Total cost of degree$94,195

Pays for Itself In

2.4 yrs

Salary Boost

+133%

Ahead After 10 Years

$604,065

How We Scored This

Salary vs. Cost40/40

Do you earn enough to justify the price?

Payoff Speed24.5/25

How fast do you earn back what you spent?

Salary Boost17.7/20

How much more than skipping college?

Graduation Rate14.4/15

Will you actually finish?

Data from the U.S. Department of Education. Salaries are what recent grads typically earn — yours could be higher or lower.

Costs can change. These numbers don't adjust for where you live, and only cover students who used federal financial aid. Not financial advice.