Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas at Tyler

UT Tyler's mechanical engineering program delivers middle-of-the-pack results among Texas schools, landing exactly at the state's 40th percentile—meaning it outperforms two-fifths of mechanical engineering programs statewide but trails the top tier significantly. First-year graduates earn $64,977, which is $8,000 less than the Texas median of $66,678 and about $6,000 below the national benchmark. The debt load of $22,125 is reasonable, sitting below both state and national averages, and translates to just four months of first-year salary.

The trajectory shows solid earnings growth of 23% over four years, bringing mid-career salaries to nearly $80,000—close to what top programs like SMU and West Texas A&M deliver at the one-year mark. This suggests the program's graduates catch up over time, though they start behind peers from more selective institutions. For a school with a 92% admission rate serving a substantial population of Pell Grant recipients, these outcomes represent accessible engineering education that leads to legitimate career prospects.

The value proposition here is straightforward: your child won't match Rice or UT Austin graduates out of the gate, but they'll carry minimal debt and reach respectable earnings within a few years. If your student is deciding between UT Tyler and other regional Texas schools (excluding the flagship programs), this is a competitive option. If they can gain admission to the state's top-tier programs, the earnings gap—roughly $15,000-$17,000 annually—justifies that route instead.