Engineering at Saint Mary's College of California

Engineering programs across California show tremendous variation in outcomes, and Saint Mary's College falls notably below the state median. Based on peer engineering programs nationally, graduates here can expect first-year earnings around $67,900—roughly $20,000 less than California's median of $87,700 for bachelor's-level engineers. That's a significant gap in a state where top programs like UC Davis and Harvey Mudd consistently place graduates above $80,000.

The estimated debt load of $26,500 is actually higher than California's typical $15,000 for engineering degrees, which compounds the earnings gap. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 appears manageable on paper, it means graduates are carrying more debt while earning considerably less than their in-state peers. For context, comparable national programs suggest this financial picture, but California's robust engineering job market typically rewards graduates more generously—Saint Mary's students may not be accessing those same opportunities at the same rate.

The real question is whether Saint Mary's smaller engineering program (evident from the suppressed data due to small cohorts) offers advantages that offset the financial gap. If your child thrives in intimate settings with high faculty attention, this could matter. But if the primary goal is maximizing earning potential in California's competitive tech and engineering sectors, the data from similar programs suggests they'll start behind peers from larger state schools and elite privates.