Mechanical Engineering at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's mechanical engineering program launches graduates into strong earnings—$83,011 in the first year—that place them in the 95th percentile nationally. That's $12,000 above what the typical mechanical engineering grad earns and competitive with what Berkeley and USC graduates make. With just $20,500 in median debt, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.25 means graduates can reasonably pay off loans in under three months of work, one of the cleaner financial pictures you'll find in engineering.

Here's the context that matters for California families: while this program ranks exceptionally well nationally, it sits at the 60th percentile among California's 29 mechanical engineering programs. That's not a weakness—it reflects how strong California's engineering schools are overall. Cal Poly still outearns the state median by over $10,000 and costs less in debt than the state average. The 17% earnings growth to nearly $98,000 by year four shows steady career progression.

For families weighing Cal Poly against more expensive private options or even some UC campuses, the math here is straightforward. Your child gets top-tier earning potential with minimal debt burden, backed by a robust sample size that confirms these outcomes are reliable. The 30% admission rate means it's selective enough to ensure strong peers and recruiting, but not so exclusive that admission becomes a lottery.