Mechanical Engineering Technologies at Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
OH · Associate's Degree · CIP 15.08
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Mechanical Engineering Technologies degree from Cincinnati State Technical & Community College earn a median salary of $66,268 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in OH, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $73,549. The degree typically pays for itself in 6.8 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$51,317
Typical Career
$66,268
Top Performers
$82,086
Estimated break-even: 6.8 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$442
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,522. Most students can comfortably afford about a $442 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.7x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.9x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Ohio buys what costs $0.90 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$73,549
Nominal: $66,268 in Ohio (COL 90.1% of national avg) · 11% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $37,159 | $50,560 | $65,232 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $51,317 | $66,268 | $82,086 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $61,245 | $79,079 | $96,791 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $66,268 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in OH, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $66,268 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9010)
= $73,549 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The program primarily feeds into the Health Care & Social Assistance sectors, with 49.7% of graduates entering this field, followed by 30.1% and 23.9% in similar roles. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 6.8 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment for those pursuing this educational path. Overall, the combination of strong earnings potential and industry demand positions the Mechanical Engineering Technologies program as a viable option for students considering their career prospects.
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Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.