Engineering-Related Fields at University of Southern California

USC's engineering-related bachelor's program shows graduates earning $73,234 in their first year—above both the national median ($68,919) and California's median ($71,138), though landing at the 60th percentile among California programs. The debt picture is mixed: at $19,250, it matches the state median but sits higher than 83% of similar programs nationally. However, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26, graduates earn nearly four dollars for every dollar borrowed, which is manageable territory. The stark reality is that these outcomes fall far behind Stanford's $100,788, though USC graduates do outpace Cal State Chico's $69,042 despite the private school premium.

The caveat here matters: with fewer than 30 graduates in the sample, these numbers could shift significantly with more data. At a highly selective institution charging premium tuition (only 10% admitted), you'd reasonably expect outcomes closer to Stanford's rather than middle-of-the-pack California performance.

For families paying USC's full sticker price, this represents a modest return given the school's prestige and cost. If your child has significant financial aid bringing actual debt near $19,250, the math works out fine—they'll comfortably manage payments on a $73K salary. But if you're facing substantially higher debt loads, consider whether this specific program justifies the premium over strong public alternatives.