Mechanical Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology

RIT's mechanical engineering graduates earn $76,263 in their first year—substantially above both New York's state median ($68,407) and the national benchmark ($70,744). Within New York, this program ranks in the 60th percentile, trailing only Cornell and SUNY Maritime among major engineering schools. What makes these numbers particularly compelling is that RIT achieves this outcome while keeping debt remarkably low: just $27,000 at graduation, which falls in the 5th percentile nationally. That means 95% of mechanical engineering programs saddle students with more debt.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 translates to manageable monthly payments—graduates should be able to pay off their loans in a few years while building savings. Earnings growth to $83,505 by year four suggests solid career progression, and the robust sample size (100+ graduates) means these aren't flukes. The 71% admission rate makes this accessible to a broad range of students, yet outcomes rival much more selective programs.

For families weighing RIT against SUNY options or comparable private schools, this is the sweet spot: near the top of New York's mechanical engineering outcomes with debt that won't hamstring your child's twenties. The co-op program reputation appears to translate into real market value.