Engineering at University of Detroit Mercy

With an estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38, this engineering program appears to maintain the fundamentals that make engineering degrees attractive investments. Based on peer programs in Michigan, graduates likely earn around $69,000 in their first year—matching the state median for engineering bachelor's degrees and slightly exceeding the national benchmark of $67,900. The estimated $26,500 in debt aligns closely with what engineering students typically borrow nationally, though it runs slightly higher than Michigan's state median of $23,000.

The challenge here is uncertainty. Because the graduate sample is too small for the Department of Education to report actual outcomes, we're working from estimates based on similar programs. Michigan State engineering graduates, for comparison, earn $75,000—about $6,000 more than what comparable programs suggest for University of Detroit Mercy. That gap matters when you're paying similar debt loads. Engineering is generally a reliable field for return on investment, but this specific program's outcomes remain harder to verify.

If your child is set on engineering and prefers Detroit Mercy's smaller environment (80% admission rate, modest SAT scores suggest accessible entry), the estimated numbers suggest reasonable value. But given the data limitations and the presence of programs with stronger reported outcomes in Michigan, confirming actual graduate employment rates and starting salaries directly with the school becomes essential before committing.