Engineering programs post top salaries, lowest debt ratios in state report

New state workforce data shows Lamar University engineering graduates earning among the highest first-year salaries in Texas while carrying some of the lowest student debt loads in the state.

The latest figures come from Texas CREWS, the College Report on Employment Outcomes and Wages, a joint transparency initiative of the Texas Workforce Commission and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The dashboard links higher education graduation records with state wage data and reports median first-year earnings for graduates, offering a more current snapshot than the federal College Scorecard, which typically tracks earnings four years after graduation.

Lamar University’s engineering programs posted strong first-year earnings across multiple disciplines when focusing exclusively on bachelor of science degrees.

Mechanical engineering graduates ranked No. 1 among 22 Texas public universities in median first-year wages, reporting $89,247. The program also posted a 3% debt-to-income ratio, the lowest in the state, with just 14% of graduates taking out student loans.

Chemical engineering ranked No. 1 in the state with a median starting salary of $97,311, outpacing the next highest institution. The program also reported a 9% loan-to-salary ratio, the lowest in Texas.

Industrial engineering placed No. 2 statewide with a median starting salary of $84,384, surpassing several larger institutions. Electrical engineering ranked No. 3 at $90,756, and mechanical engineering ranked No. 4 on a separate Bachelor of Science comparison at $82,021, reflecting year-to-year variation in median-based data. Civil engineering graduates reported a median starting salary of $73,577, aligning with the state average.

“We are proud that LU scholarships and aid are awarded to 90% of students across campus, and we are excited to hear that Lamar has been recently voted number one in Texas for the lowest student debt,” Maddie Genuardi, scholarship coordinator for the College of Engineering said. “This reflects in our engineering students especially, as so many of our scholarships are gifts from our incredible alumni to support our students through their college journey.”

She added that each department within the College of Engineering also offers its own awards, with some of the most prominent funded by industry partners such as Valero, Cheniere, and Entergy, helping students combine financial support with hands-on experience to set them up for early career success.

“This financial support helps students focus fully on their studies, which in turn allows them to participate in internships and co-ops and quickly enter the workforce,” Genuardi said. “In turn, our students are able to pay off any minor debts they have quickly and focus on their careers, and hopefully help more future students down the road.”

To learn more about the College of Engineering at Lamar University, visit http://www.lamar.edu/engineering.