Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians at Minnesota State University-Mankato

Minnesota State University-Mankato's Mechanical Engineering Technology program launches graduates into solid mid-$60,000s salaries—beating the national median by about $1,500 and landing in the 62nd percentile nationally. The $27,000 median debt translates to a manageable 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe less than half their first-year salary. That's a reasonable starting point for an engineering-adjacent field at a school with a 91% admission rate.

The concern here is what happens after that strong start. Earnings actually slip slightly by year four, from $64,005 to $63,301. While that's only a 1% decline and could reflect industry-specific factors or small sample variation, it suggests graduates aren't seeing the typical post-college salary progression you'd expect in technical fields. This is the only program of its kind in Minnesota, so you can't compare it to in-state alternatives, but nationally, three-quarters of similar programs deliver earnings above $65,700.

For families prioritizing immediate employment with manageable debt, this program works—you're looking at roughly $2,250 monthly payments on that debt against a take-home salary that can handle it. Just understand that the career trajectory appears flat rather than upward-sloping, at least in those critical first four years when salary growth typically accelerates most.