Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Purdue University-Main Campus

Purdue's Engineering Technologies program shows surprisingly weak earnings outcomes for such a well-regarded engineering school. At $50,059 one year out, graduates earn 25% less than the national median for this degree ($66,626) and land in just the 17th percentile nationally. That's concerning for a university with a 1342 average SAT and a strong STEM reputation—students here are academically competitive but seeing below-average financial returns.

The debt picture adds to the worry. At $21,500, graduates carry relatively modest loans, but the 95th percentile debt ranking nationally means nearly every comparable program keeps borrowing lower. The 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic, but it reflects the earnings disappointment more than responsible borrowing. Within Indiana, this program performs at the median (60th percentile), but with only three schools offering this degree statewide, that's limited context.

The caveat matters here: with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers could swing significantly with a larger sample. But even accounting for statistical noise, the gap between Purdue's engineering prestige and these outcomes is striking. Parents should ask hard questions about why this particular program underperforms both Purdue's reputation and national norms. If your child is drawn to engineering technology rather than traditional engineering, comparing costs and outcomes at Indiana's other options—or considering whether Purdue's conventional engineering track might offer better returns—would be wise.