Michigan Technological University
Houghton, Michigan · Public · 92.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 89/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Michigan Technological University scores 89 (Strong Value). Michigan Tech sits in Houghton, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula - a remote setting that shapes its culture. Median 10-year earnings of $78,198 are strong. The school admits 92.4% of applicants - essentially open enrollment - which means weaker academic preparation is common and completion suffers. What makes Michigan Tech distinct is its density of engineering and applied-science programs: Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering all post 1-year earnings above $70,000. The school's industry connections with automotive, mining, and energy employers in the Midwest run deep. If you graduate, the ROI is excellent. The risk is that only 68% do.
Michigan Technological University scores in the top 6% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Michigan Technological University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $19,123/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $42,988/yr |
| Average net price | $14,182/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $56,728 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $78,198 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $54,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,990 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 68.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,955 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $19,123/year ($42,988/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $14,182/year, or roughly $56,728 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $2,045/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,107/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,990, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($54,000) and comes to 0.46, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $2,045 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $3,373 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $6,187 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,813 |
| $110,001+ | $23,107 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay a net price of just $2,045 per year at Michigan Tech. Over four years, total cost is under $8,200. Combined with median debt of $24,990 and typical engineering earnings above $70,000 at year one, this is a very strong financial case for low-income engineering students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Families in the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pay $3,373 per year; those in the $48,001-$75,000 range pay $6,187. Costs remain low through the middle range. The jump from $6,187 to $12,813 for the $75,001-$110,000 bracket is steep but still leaves total 4-year cost under $52,000. This is far below private engineering schools and competitive with flagship publics.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $23,107 per year - about $92,000 over four years. Against 1-year engineering earnings above $70,000, the investment pays back quickly.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Michigan Technological University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | $88,860 | B |
| Electrical Engineering | $99,848 | B+ |
| Chemical Engineering | $94,478 | B+ |
| Computer Science | $105,428 | B |
| Computer Engineering | $93,557 | B+ |
| Civil Engineering | $83,841 | B |
| Biomedical Engineering | $83,916 | B |
| Environmental Engineering | $76,857 | B |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration | $93,480 | B+ |
| Materials Engineering | $92,070 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Chemical Engineering
78 graduates with 1-year earnings of $80,193 and 4-year earnings of $94,478. Debt-to-earnings 0.309 (grade: B+). Chemical engineering at Michigan Tech feeds into petroleum refining, polymer manufacturing, and specialty chemicals - industries with significant Michigan and Midwest presence. The school's curriculum has a strong applied focus, and industry partnerships produce co-op and internship pipelines.
Electrical Engineering
85 graduates with 1-year earnings of $79,439 and 4-year earnings of $99,848. Debt-to-earnings 0.34 (grade: B+). Michigan Tech's electrical engineering program has strong ties to automotive electronics, power systems, and defense contractors in the Great Lakes region. Automotive electrification has created growing demand for EE graduates in battery management systems, vehicle networking, and charging infrastructure. The program's size is small enough to maintain close faculty relationships.
Mechanical Engineering
274 graduates - the largest program at Michigan Tech - with 1-year earnings of $74,922 and 4-year earnings of $88,860. Debt-to-earnings 0.36 (grade: B). Mechanical engineering graduates from Michigan Tech flow into automotive OEMs and suppliers, defense contractors, and manufacturing firms. The school's Enterprise program - multidisciplinary teams tackling industry-sponsored design projects - gives students practical portfolio work that distinguishes them at job interviews. The high volume of graduates means broad alumni networks across the Midwest manufacturing corridor.
Computer Science
68 graduates with 1-year earnings of $69,910 and 4-year earnings of $105,428. Debt-to-earnings 0.354 (grade: B). The remote campus location means fewer tech company recruiters visit in person, but remote hiring has reduced this disadvantage. Students interested in embedded systems, game development, and software for industrial applications find a strong fit here.
Civil Engineering
64 graduates with 1-year earnings of $70,928 and 4-year earnings of $83,841. Debt-to-earnings 0.367 (grade: B). Civil engineering at Michigan Tech has a strong geotechnical and structural focus, with ties to infrastructure construction in the Upper Midwest and Canada. Mining infrastructure, transportation engineering, and water resources are areas where the school has distinctive strengths. Starting salaries in the low $70s are competitive for civil engineering regionally.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 86.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 89.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 83.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 88.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Michigan Technological University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 92.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 560-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 570-680 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-31 |
| Enrollment | 5,955 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 20.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,858 |
Michigan Tech admitted 92.4% of applicants - admission is not a meaningful hurdle. SAT math 560-670, reading 570-680; ACT composite 25-31. The open admissions policy means the school serves students across a wide preparation range. Motivated students should thrive; students who are marginal in math and science should expect a difficult first year.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan Technological University (this school) | 89 | $14,182 | $78,198 |
| University of Washington-Bothell Campus | 91 | $12,319 | $78,466 |
| University of California-Merced | 84 | $11,983 | $64,368 |
| Sonoma State University | 81 | $12,885 | $65,986 |
| Central Michigan University | 51 | $17,597 | $55,874 |
| Eastern Michigan University | 42 | $15,407 | $51,793 |
Who Thrives Here
Michigan Tech fits students who are serious about engineering or applied sciences and can handle a rural, technically demanding environment. ACT range 25-31, SAT math 560-670. The 20.2% Pell rate suggests a less economically diverse student body. Students who struggle with calculus sequences or first-year engineering labs have a meaningful dropout risk here - the completion data reflects a real challenge. Students who arrive prepared and committed tend to land excellent jobs in automotive, energy, and manufacturing.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Michigan Technological University pays off. You'd pay about $14,182 a year after aid ($56,728 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $78,198 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 4.6 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 68.1% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $24,990 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $54,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Michigan Technological University: Common Questions
Is Michigan Technological University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Michigan Technological University pays off. It scores 89/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $14,182 a year after aid ($56,728 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $78,198 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.6 years to earn back.
How much does Michigan Technological University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $14,182 a year, or roughly $56,728 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Michigan Technological University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $78,198 ten years after enrolling, roughly $36,398 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Michigan Technological University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 4.6 years for Michigan Technological University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Michigan Technological University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,990, against average earnings of $54,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Michigan Technological University?
The six-year graduation rate is 68.1%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.