Materials Engineering at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Cal Poly's Materials Engineering program produces graduates who exceed both California and national earning medians—by the fourth year, alumni are pulling in nearly $99,000, well ahead of the typical materials engineering graduate. That 33% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests the degree opens doors to progressively better opportunities, which is exactly what you want to see from an engineering investment.

The debt picture here is unusually favorable. At $17,000, graduates carry significantly less debt than the national median of $23,250, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.23—manageable by any standard. Within California's materials engineering landscape, this program ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings while keeping costs reasonable, comparing favorably to UC Davis at the same starting salary but with stronger mid-career growth.

The major caveat: this data comes from a small sample size, so individual experiences may vary more than these numbers suggest. Still, Cal Poly's strong engineering reputation and the fundamentals here—solid earnings trajectory, low debt burden, and competitive placement—make a compelling case. For families targeting an affordable engineering degree that delivers market-rate outcomes without excessive borrowing, this checks the right boxes.