Architectural Engineering at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Cal Poly SLO's architectural engineering graduates command $80,481 right out of college—substantially above the national median of $73,392 and placing this program in the 95th percentile nationally. The debt load of $25,116 translates to a healthy 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe roughly three months' salary. For a selective public polytechnic (30% admission rate), these outcomes justify the investment, particularly for in-state students paying California tuition.

The concerning element here is the earnings trajectory: salaries actually decline 4% by year four, dropping to $77,591. This pattern is unusual for an engineering discipline and suggests graduates may be hitting project-based roles where compensation fluctuates, or the early-career advantage doesn't compound as quickly as in other engineering fields. That said, even at the four-year mark, these graduates still out-earn the national median for the field.

The limited state comparison (Cal Poly is the only California school in the dataset for this program) makes it hard to gauge relative value within the state, but the strong national standing speaks for itself. Parents should recognize they're paying for a well-regarded program that launches graduates into solid starting salaries, even if the growth trajectory requires closer examination during campus visits and conversations with the career services office.