Mechanical Engineering at Seattle University

Seattle University's mechanical engineering program falls below the national median by about $3,000 in starting salary, but that comparison misses the bigger picture. Within Washington state, this program actually sits at the median and beats the University of Washington's Tacoma campus. The real advantage shows up in the debt picture: graduates carry just $20,467 in loans compared to the state median of $22,332, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30. That means graduates can pay off their full debt load with less than four months of earnings—well within the range of what makes a degree financially sustainable.

The earnings trajectory looks solid, with graduates seeing 19% growth to $81,022 by year four. While Seattle University's program doesn't reach the heights of WSU or Seattle Pacific (which start around $72,000), it also costs students less in borrowed money. For families weighing options, the question becomes whether an extra $4,000-5,000 in starting salary at those top programs justifies potentially higher debt loads and more competitive admissions.

This is a reasonable middle-ground option for Washington students, particularly if your child has strong but not exceptional test scores. The 76% admission rate makes it accessible, and the combination of moderate debt with steady earnings growth suggests graduates can establish themselves financially without struggling under loan payments.