Mechanical Engineering at Florida International University

Florida International University's mechanical engineering program outperforms the state median by nearly $15,000 in first-year earnings and ranks in the 60th percentile among Florida's 16 ME programs—a solid showing for a school with a 59% admission rate that serves a predominantly middle-class student body (40% receive Pell grants). While it doesn't quite match flagship programs like UF or USF, graduates still earn above the national median and see healthy 17% earnings growth by year four, reaching $83,193.

The debt picture is reasonable at $19,750, slightly below the Florida average and yielding a manageable 0.28 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means graduates owe roughly three months of their starting salary—not spectacular, but workable for an engineering degree. The robust sample size (100+ graduates) gives these numbers credibility.

For families seeking an engineering degree in South Florida without the pressure of ultra-competitive admissions, FIU delivers competent outcomes at a fair price. The earnings won't rival UF's top-tier numbers, but your student will graduate with less debt than most mechanical engineers nationwide and start earning above-average wages immediately. That's a practical foundation for a middle-class engineering career.