Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Texas A&M-Kingsville graduates start behind but catch up quickly—first-year earnings of $56,135 trail both the national median ($70,744) and Texas median ($66,678) by substantial margins, landing this program in just the 25th percentile statewide. However, the 45% earnings jump to $81,500 by year four tells a different story: graduates eventually surpass many higher-ranked programs. The $21,678 median debt is actually lower than both state and national averages, making the return on investment more compelling than the initial numbers suggest.

This pattern likely reflects the school's role serving first-generation and lower-income students (55% receive Pell grants) who may take longer to land engineering roles matching their qualifications. The 92% admission rate and modest SAT scores indicate accessibility over selectivity, but the eventual earnings growth suggests employers value the technical skills gained here. While graduates from UT Austin or Texas A&M College Station start $25,000+ higher, Kingsville students carry similar or lower debt and reach solid mid-career earnings.

For families prioritizing affordability and eventual outcomes over immediate starting salaries, this represents a reasonable path into mechanical engineering. The key question is whether your student can weather those first few years of below-market earnings—perhaps living at home or in lower-cost areas—until the trajectory catches up. If debt aversion matters more than prestige, the math works.