Engineering Science at Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt's Engineering Science program produces strong early earnings at $81,126—substantially above the national median of $73,378 and landing in the 85th percentile nationally. With only $15,000 in debt, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.18, meaning they owe less than two months' salary. That's a comfortable position for starting a technical career. However, the small sample size here matters: with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these figures could swing considerably with just a few data points.

The state comparison is less meaningful since Vanderbilt appears to be the only Tennessee school reporting data for this specific program. What's more telling is how this stacks up against the national landscape: graduates are earning about $8,000 more annually than typical Engineering Science grads elsewhere, while carrying $4,000 less debt. Given Vanderbilt's 6% admission rate and elite student body, these outcomes align with what you'd expect from a highly selective program.

For families who can navigate Vanderbilt's admissions and manage the cost of attendance (the debt figure suggests significant aid or family contribution), this program delivers solid immediate returns. The real question isn't whether the degree pays off—it clearly does—but whether your child can get in and whether the small program size means limited course offerings compared to larger engineering schools.