Compare 36 Applied Engineering Technologies/Technicians. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $65,904. Top programs: $97,959+.
With top graduates earning $98,000, Applied Engineering Technologies/Technicians stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $32K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus leads with graduates earning $98,000, followed by Drexel University at $88,000 and Miami University-Oxford at $82,000. The average across all 36 programs is $66,000, showing how specific programs can dramatically outperform expectations based on school recognition alone.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Eastern New Mexico University graduates borrow $16,500 and face just a 3.0% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.17.
Highest program earnings: $97,959
Strong outcomes with 55% acceptance
3.0% payment burden | Excellent
5.8% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $97,959 | 7 | $16,500 | Excellent | $13,200 | Excellent | |
| #2 | Drexel UniversityPrivate | $87,840 | 22 | $25,325 | Excellent | $40,932 | Manageable |
| #3 | Miami University-OxfordPublic | $81,683 | 42 | $23,000 | Excellent | $34,512 | Manageable |
| #4 | $81,537 | 21 | $27,000 | Excellent | $54,800 | Challenging | |
| #5 | $78,990 | 65 | $23,833 | Excellent | $19,000 | Good | |
| #6 | $77,045 | 214 | $21,000 | Excellent | $22,866 | Good | |
| #7 | $76,975 | 41 | $17,095 | Excellent | $10,166 | Excellent | |
| #8 | $76,222 | 20 | $22,113 | Excellent | $10,611 | Good | |
| #9 | $74,294 | 101 | $22,162 | Excellent | $19,508 | Good | |
| #10 | $73,609 | 36 | $21,000 | Excellent | $14,000 | Good | |
| #11 | $72,929 | 58 | $23,000 | Excellent | $11,000 | Good | |
| #12 | $72,904 | 23 | $25,251 | Excellent | $20,764 | Manageable | |
| #13 | University Of MemphisPublic | $71,936 | 35 | $23,300 | Excellent | $15,393 | Good |
| #14 | $71,825 | 62 | $15,650 | Excellent | $11,640 | Good | |
| #15 | Bemidji State UniversityPublic | $71,347 | 19 | $19,750 | Excellent | $12,173 | Good |
| #16 | $70,789 | 60 | $19,500 | Excellent | $17,148 | Good | |
| #17 | Temple UniversityPublic | $69,195 | 26 | $24,395 | Excellent | $36,495 | Challenging |
| #18 | Kansas State UniversityPublic | $67,664 | 23 | $21,250 | Excellent | $27,283 | Manageable |
| #19 | $67,301 | 52 | $21,868 | Excellent | $18,241 | Manageable | |
| #20 | $67,004 | 20 | $19,500 | Excellent | $29,448 | Manageable | |
| #21 | $65,050 | 45 | $22,250 | Excellent | $10,050 | Good | |
| #22 | Texas State UniversityPublic | $64,513 | 53 | $21,000 | Excellent | $22,500 | Manageable |
| #23 | $63,807 | 32 | $16,624 | Excellent | $12,269 | Good | |
| #24 | $62,089 | 41 | $20,547 | Excellent | $14,710 | Manageable | |
| #25 | $60,785 | 47 | $20,000 | Excellent | $14,229 | Manageable |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
