Mechanical Engineering at Wright State University-Lake Campus

Wright State-Lake Campus's mechanical engineering program lands squarely in the middle of Ohio's offerings but trails the national median by about $4,400 in first-year earnings. At the 40th percentile statewide, it underperforms flagship programs like Ohio State ($79,359) and University of Toledo ($77,011) by roughly $10,000-$13,000 annually, though it does keep debt manageable at $25,000—right in line with state and national norms.

The positive news is steady earnings growth: graduates see a 14% increase from year one to year four, reaching $75,309. That's solid progression for a regional campus, and the debt load won't crush your child—they'll owe less than 40% of their first-year salary, which is reasonable for an engineering degree. However, starting $4,000 below the national median in a field where location matters less than most (engineering jobs are relatively mobile) raises questions about whether this program opens the same doors as stronger Ohio alternatives.

For families prioritizing affordability and staying close to home, this delivers a legitimate engineering credential without overwhelming debt. But if your child can access Ohio State, Toledo, or Cincinnati—and the cost difference isn't prohibitive—those programs show meaningfully higher early-career earnings that could compound over time. The Lake Campus works as a budget-conscious path into mechanical engineering, just not the most lucrative one in Ohio.