Engineering Technology at University of Central Missouri

University of Central Missouri's Engineering Technology program significantly outperforms the only other option in the state. With graduates earning $73,609 four years out, that's nearly $22,000 more than Southeast Missouri State's engineering technology grads—a substantial advantage for Missouri families considering where to spend their tuition dollars. At the 60th percentile statewide, UCM sits comfortably above the state median of $51,430.

The $26,000 in typical debt is reasonable given these earnings, creating a debt-to-income ratio of 0.42 that most graduates can manage. A first-year salary of $61,424 means monthly student loan payments would consume roughly 5% of gross income under standard repayment plans. The 20% earnings growth to year four suggests career progression rather than stagnation, which matters for long-term financial stability.

What makes this particularly compelling for Missouri families: you're getting competitive national outcomes (55th percentile) at a more accessible institution with a 69% admission rate. This isn't an elite engineering program that requires perfect test scores, but it delivers solidly middle-of-the-pack national results while beating the local competition by a wide margin. For students interested in hands-on engineering work who may not be targeting mechanical or electrical engineering at Missouri S&T, this represents a practical path to stable earnings without crushing debt.