Engineering-Related Fields at Utah State University

Utah State's engineering-related program carries exceptionally low debt—$13,988 versus a national median of $25,368—but that advantage comes with a significant earnings tradeoff. At $54,059 first-year out, graduates earn about $15,000 less than the national median and nearly $10,000 below Utah Valley University's graduates in the same field. Within Utah, this program sits right at the median for debt but falls to the 40th percentile for earnings, meaning most comparable in-state options deliver better financial outcomes.

The 0.26 debt-to-earnings ratio looks strong on paper, but context matters: it's favorable primarily because the debt is so low, not because earnings are competitive. For an engineering-related degree—typically a field known for solid starting salaries—placing in just the 5th percentile nationally for earnings should concern families expecting typical engineering returns. The moderate sample size suggests these results are reasonably representative, not statistical noise.

If minimizing student debt is the absolute priority and your student is committed to staying in Utah, this program accomplishes that goal effectively. However, if maximizing earning potential matters—and in engineering fields, it usually should—spending an extra few thousand dollars to attend Utah Valley University would likely pay for itself within the first year of employment. The debt savings here don't compensate for the earnings gap.