Manufacturing Engineering at Western Washington University

Western Washington University's manufacturing engineering program comes with an unusual wrinkle: you're looking at data from fewer than 30 graduates, which means these numbers could shift dramatically year to year. That said, the program sits in the 60th percentile among Washington manufacturing engineering programs—though with only two schools offering this degree statewide, that comparison has limited meaning. More telling is the national picture: graduates here earn about $6,300 less than the typical manufacturing engineering graduate nationwide, landing in just the 5th percentile nationally.

The debt load of $21,425 is perfectly average for this field, resulting in a manageable 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio. First-year earnings of $65,863 aren't bad by general standards, but manufacturing engineering typically commands higher salaries—closer to $72,000 nationally—making this program's outcomes somewhat disappointing for the field. The bright spot is WWU's 91% admission rate and reasonable costs, which help explain the moderate debt burden.

The real question is whether your student could access stronger manufacturing engineering programs elsewhere. With national median earnings nearly 10% higher, it's worth exploring alternatives—particularly if they're willing to consider out-of-state options or schools with more established programs. If staying in Washington is essential and WWU is the accessible choice, the debt level won't be crushing, but temper expectations about earning potential in those critical early career years.