Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians at Fairmont State University

Fairmont State's mechanical engineering technology program shows promising earnings growth but starts well behind the national pack. While graduates earn $54,410 in their first year—landing this program in just the 20th percentile nationally—earnings jump 30% to nearly $71,000 by year four. That's a solid trajectory, though you're still looking at about $8,000 less than the typical graduate from similar programs nationwide earns right out of the gate.

Within West Virginia, the picture looks more competitive. Fairmont State ranks in the 60th percentile for the state, outpacing American Public University System's graduates by roughly $6,300. The $25,000 in typical debt is also more manageable than both the state and national medians, giving graduates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46—meaning the debt equals less than half of first-year income. For students planning to stay in West Virginia's manufacturing and energy sectors, this could work out fine.

The catch: we're working with a very small sample size here, which means these numbers might not tell the full story. Outcomes for a handful of graduates can swing wildly year to year. If your child is committed to staying in West Virginia and values the accessibility of Fairmont State's 99% admission rate, this program offers reasonable value. For students with more options or national career ambitions, stronger engineering technology programs exist that start graduates at higher salaries.