Compare 12 Marine Engineering Technology/Technician. programs in the West. Average earnings: $63,863.
With top graduates earning $81,702, Marine Engineering Technology/Technician stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $18K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Art Center College of Design's Marine Engineering Technology program leads with graduates earning $81,702, demonstrating how specialized programs can thrive at unexpected institutions. Metropolitan State University of Denver follows at $76,047, while Central Washington University reaches $74,230—all outperforming the $63,863 average across 12 Western programs.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Brigham Young University-Idaho graduates borrow $13,969 and face just a 4.7% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families including parent loans, the same school maintains an excellent 7.7% burden—proof that smart program selection creates lasting financial advantage.
Highest program earnings: $81,702
Strong outcomes with 75% acceptance
4.7% payment burden | Excellent
7.7% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Art Center College Of DesignPrivate | $81,702 | 38 | $31,000 | Excellent | $66,614 | Challenging |
| #2 | $76,047 | 50 | $21,500 | Excellent | $13,743 | Good | |
| #3 | $74,230 | 35 | $19,500 | Excellent | $22,000 | Good | |
| #4 | Montana State UniversityPublic | $69,865 | 44 | $22,500 | Excellent | $25,000 | Manageable |
| #5 | $69,819 | 13 | $19,500 | Excellent | $17,148 | Good | |
| #6 | $66,171 | 19 | $24,965 | Excellent | $38,432 | Challenging | |
| #7 | $64,243 | 34 | $16,000 | Excellent | $15,000 | Good | |
| #8 | $63,005 | 58 | $13,969 | Excellent | $7,556 | Excellent | |
| #9 | $60,839 | 8 | $22,500 | Good | $22,978 | Manageable | |
| #10 | $50,465 | 9 | $18,500 | Good | $23,123 | Challenging | |
| #11 | Colorado Mesa UniversityPublic | $47,260 | 13 | $22,000 | Manageable | $18,879 | Challenging |
| #12 | $42,707 | 7 | $21,500 | Manageable | $14,786 | High |
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 →
