Engineering at Minnesota State University-Mankato

Minnesota State-Mankato delivers solid engineering outcomes at an exceptionally affordable price point. Graduates earn $68,044 in their first year—essentially matching both the national median and Minnesota state median—but they carry just $27,627 in debt, landing in the 5th percentile nationally for borrowing. That's thousands less than what students typically owe at comparable programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 that should be manageable for most graduates. Among Minnesota's five engineering programs, this ranks 60th percentile for earnings, essentially tied with the pricier University of Minnesota-Twin Cities while costing substantially less.

The trajectory looks stable, with earnings growing 10% to $75,021 by year four. That's not explosive growth, but it's consistent upward movement typical of early-career engineers. The moderate sample size suggests this isn't a tiny program, so the data likely reflects a reasonable cross-section of outcomes. With a 91% admission rate, this program offers accessible entry into a field where mid-tier starting salaries are still quite livable.

For Minnesota families looking at engineering programs, MSU-Mankato offers a practical path: you'll earn what typical engineers earn but graduate with markedly less debt. That cost advantage matters more than a few thousand dollars in salary differential, particularly early in your career when loan payments bite hardest.