Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at University of Detroit Mercy

The $80,000 first-year earnings suggested by similar engineering programs in Michigan—essentially matching the state median—represent solid but not exceptional outcomes for a technical degree. When compared to peer institutions with reported data, University of Detroit Mercy's program appears to track in the middle of Michigan's engineering field, well behind powerhouses like Michigan-Ann Arbor and Kettering but competitive with established state universities. The estimated $26,000 debt load, if accurate, translates to manageable monthly payments against that income level.

What's less certain is how this specific program performs relative to those state benchmarks. The estimation derives from 12 Michigan programs, which span a wide range of institutional quality and student preparation. With an 80% admission rate and average SAT of 1136, UDM serves a different student population than the selective programs dominating the state rankings. Whether graduates from this access-oriented environment achieve outcomes matching more selective peers remains unknown due to the small sample size that triggered data suppression.

For parents weighing this investment, the fundamentals look reasonable if the estimates hold—a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32 falls within workable bounds for engineering careers. But recognize you're operating on limited information. If your student has options at Michigan State, Grand Valley, or Lawrence Tech where actual outcomes are documented, those programs offer more certainty about post-graduation prospects.