Mechanical Engineering at California State University-Los Angeles

Cal State LA's Mechanical Engineering program offers something increasingly rare: dramatically lower debt with respectable earnings growth. At $13,000 in median debt—barely half the state median and far below the national average—graduates start their careers with minimal financial burden. While first-year earnings of $55,405 trail both state and national medians by roughly $15,000, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23 is exceptional, meaning graduates earn back their entire debt burden in under three months.

The earnings trajectory tells an important part of this story. By year four, graduates reach $78,721—a 42% jump that narrows the gap considerably with higher-ranked California programs. Yes, this lags behind Berkeley ($88,497) or Cal Poly SLO ($83,011), but consider what you're getting: comparable mid-career outcomes at a fraction of the debt load and with a 92% admission rate serving a predominantly Pell-eligible student body. The 25th percentile ranking among California engineering programs isn't stellar, but it reflects first-year earnings rather than the full picture.

For families focused on minimizing debt while still accessing solid engineering careers, this program makes practical sense. The lower starting salary is real, but so is graduating with manageable debt and strong earning potential by your mid-twenties. If your child has offers from higher-ranked programs at similar costs, those warrant consideration—but this isn't a risky bet by any measure.