Program Analysis
At $79,549 per year, Manufacturing Engineering graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona earn slightly above the $72,238 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
The 26.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The median debt load of $19,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
A #1 ranking out of 14 Manufacturing Engineering programs nationally puts California State Polytechnic University-Pomona in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.
Earnings growth is modest: $79,549 to $93,335 over five years (17% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.