Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Technological University

Michigan Tech's mechanical engineering program charges a premium but struggles to deliver premium results within Michigan. While graduates earn $74,922 in their first year—placing the program in the 77th percentile nationally—this figure falls to just the 40th percentile among Michigan's 17 mechanical engineering programs. Students are paying more debt ($27,000 vs. the state median of $26,950) to earn $1,400 less than the typical Michigan mechanical engineering graduate.

The national comparison tells a more favorable story, with earnings exceeding the national median by over $4,000 and debt remaining impressively low at the 5th percentile nationally. The 10% earnings growth over four years is solid, and the 0.36 debt-to-earnings ratio indicates manageable financial burden. However, Michigan families should recognize they're competing primarily within their state's job market, where programs like University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($82,823) and Michigan State ($80,259) produce notably higher-earning graduates.

For families prioritizing value within Michigan's engineering landscape, this program represents a middle-tier option despite its strong national standing. The low debt load helps offset the earnings gap, but students with stronger academic credentials might find better returns at Michigan's top-tier programs.