Mechanical Engineering at University of Wisconsin-Platteville

UW-Platteville's mechanical engineering program sits in an interesting position: it performs solidly by national standards but trails the Wisconsin pack. Starting earnings of $71,612 beat the national median slightly and come with manageable debt of $26,000—that's a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.36, meaning graduates earn nearly three times their debt in the first year. However, ranking in the 40th percentile among Wisconsin programs reveals that this state has unusually strong mechanical engineering options. You're paying roughly the same debt as other Wisconsin schools but earning $1,000-$3,000 less than programs at Madison, Stout, or Marquette.

The trajectory looks stable rather than spectacular, with earnings climbing 8% to $77,244 by year four—decent growth but not dramatic. The program's accessible admission (87% acceptance rate) makes it a viable option for students who might struggle to get into Madison or Milwaukee School of Engineering, but families should understand they're trading some earning power for that accessibility.

For a student who gets into multiple Wisconsin mechanical engineering programs, the higher-ranked options would likely deliver better returns. But if UW-Platteville offers the best combination of admission likelihood and cost among your Wisconsin acceptances, the fundamentals here are sound—strong national performance and debt that won't derail your financial start.