Compare 37 Applied Engineering Technologies/Technicians. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $75,983. 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 | 8 | $16,500 | Excellent | $13,200 | Excellent | |
| #2 | Drexel UniversityPrivate | $97,379 | 29 | $25,325 | Excellent | $40,932 | Manageable |
| #3 | Bemidji State UniversityPublic | $90,868 | 22 | $19,750 | Excellent | $12,173 | Excellent |
| #4 | $89,862 | 50 | $23,000 | Excellent | $34,512 | Manageable | |
| #5 | $89,862 | 6 | $23,000 | Excellent | $34,512 | Manageable | |
| #6 | $89,729 | 55 | $23,833 | Excellent | $19,000 | Good | |
| #7 | $86,360 | 195 | $21,000 | Excellent | $22,866 | Good | |
| #8 | $81,690 | 47 | $17,095 | Excellent | $10,166 | Excellent | |
| #9 | $81,554 | 58 | $22,162 | Excellent | $19,508 | Good | |
| #10 | $80,541 | 22 | $20,000 | Excellent | $14,229 | Good | |
| #11 | $80,530 | 33 | $20,482 | Excellent | $28,767 | Manageable | |
| #12 | $80,376 | 19 | $23,334 | Excellent | $39,731 | Manageable | |
| #13 | University Of MemphisPublic | $79,914 | 40 | $23,300 | Excellent | $15,393 | Good |
| #14 | Temple UniversityPublic | $79,351 | 34 | $24,395 | Excellent | $36,495 | Manageable |
| #15 | $79,309 | 44 | $20,547 | Excellent | $14,710 | Good | |
| #16 | $78,801 | 53 | $21,868 | Excellent | $18,241 | Good | |
| #17 | Texas State UniversityPublic | $78,671 | 56 | $21,000 | Excellent | $22,500 | Good |
| #18 | $77,658 | 69 | $15,650 | Excellent | $11,640 | Excellent | |
| #19 | Wichita State UniversityPublic | $77,103 | 25 | $20,500 | Excellent | $14,306 | Good |
| #20 | $76,784 | 42 | $23,000 | Excellent | $11,000 | Good | |
| #21 | $76,568 | 49 | $22,250 | Excellent | $10,050 | Good | |
| #22 | $75,922 | 19 | $25,251 | Excellent | $20,764 | Manageable | |
| #23 | $75,375 | 27 | $21,000 | Excellent | $14,000 | Good | |
| #24 | $75,298 | 52 | $19,442 | Excellent | $16,938 | Good | |
| #25 | $74,785 | 24 | $22,113 | Excellent | $10,611 | Good |
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 →
