Mechanical Engineering at University of Hartford

University of Hartford's mechanical engineering graduates earn $73,871 in their first year—solidly above the national median but trailing most Connecticut programs. This is a state where flagship UConn campuses dominate the mechanical engineering landscape, and Hartford ranks in just the 40th percentile among in-state options. The $27,000 median debt, however, is genuinely manageable, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 that puts this program in the 5th percentile nationally (meaning very few programs have this favorable a debt picture).

The program delivers steady career progression, with earnings climbing to $81,682 by year four—an 11% increase that suggests graduates are building marketable skills. The moderate sample size means these numbers reflect real outcomes but should be verified across multiple years. For Connecticut families, the key question is whether the $4,000-$5,000 earnings gap compared to UConn justifies lower admission selectivity and potentially different recruiting networks.

If your child can gain admission to UConn, that's likely the stronger play for mechanical engineering in Connecticut. But Hartford offers a viable alternative with accessible admission and genuinely low debt—qualities that matter when a quarter of engineering students nationwide graduate owing over $30,000. This won't maximize first-year earnings, but it positions graduates to enter the workforce without crushing debt obligations.