Mechanical Engineering at Clarkson University

Clarkson's mechanical engineering program punches above its weight for a school with a 77% admission rate. Starting salaries of $73,168 beat both the national median ($70,744) and New York's state median ($68,407), placing graduates in the 60th percentile among NY engineering programs—respectable company when Cornell leads the pack at $85,440 but only $1,300 behind elite Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

The financial equation looks particularly attractive. With just $27,000 in median debt—barely above the national median despite being a private institution—graduates face a debt burden of only 37% of their first-year salary. That's notably better than most private engineering schools, where debt often exceeds $35,000. By year four, earnings climb to $80,586, giving graduates increasing financial flexibility as their careers progress. The robust sample size (100+ graduates) confirms this isn't a statistical fluke.

For parents weighing options, Clarkson delivers solid engineering outcomes without the financial strain typical of many private technical schools. Your child won't match Cornell-level earnings, but they'll enter the workforce with manageable debt and salary that outpaces most New York engineering programs. That combination—strong starting pay with relatively low borrowing—is exactly what makes a technical degree worthwhile.