Mechanical Engineering at Saint Louis University

Saint Louis University's mechanical engineering graduates start at $74,209—roughly $2,300 above the national median and just above the state median. Among Missouri's seven engineering programs, this sits squarely in the middle, trailing Missouri S&T by about $1,600 but outperforming Mizzou-St. Louis by nearly $5,000. The debt load of $25,665 is modest and close to national norms, resulting in a healthy debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35. That means graduates earn roughly $3 for every dollar borrowed, which makes the program financially manageable from day one.

The caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates reported data, so these numbers could shift with a larger cohort. That said, the figures align sensibly with SLU's overall profile as a solid regional university with an 81% admission rate and decent academic standards. For families choosing between Missouri schools, this program offers competitive outcomes without the stratospheric selectivity of WashU or the STEM specialization of Missouri S&T.

If your child is targeting mechanical engineering and prefers an urban setting with reasonable debt, SLU delivers practical value. Just understand you're paying for middle-of-the-pack Missouri outcomes, not elite national placement.