Engineering at Frostburg State University

Frostburg State's engineering program produces graduates earning $62,968 in their first year—about $5,000 below the national median but close to Maryland's state median of $64,116. While this places the program at the 40th percentile among Maryland engineering schools, that's more competitive than the national 22nd percentile ranking suggests, largely because Maryland hosts several strong engineering programs that pull up the comparison group.

The debt picture here is actually a strength. At $23,750, graduates borrow less than the national median for engineering programs, resulting in a very manageable 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio. This means graduates need less than five months of gross income to cover their total debt—well within the healthy range for STEM fields. The moderate sample size suggests steady program enrollment, and the 89% admission rate means access isn't a barrier for most applicants.

The practical reality: your child won't command top-tier engineering salaries right out of Frostburg, but they'll start with solid mid-$60s earnings and relatively light debt. For families prioritizing affordability over prestige, particularly Maryland residents paying in-state tuition, this represents a sensible path into engineering. Just understand you're trading some immediate earning potential for lower financial risk—a tradeoff that may look better four years from now than borrowing twice as much for marginally higher starting pay.