My son was accepted to SDSU as a mechanical engineering major. (1450 SAT, 4.26 WGPA, 770 SAT II Math) He was wait listed at Cal Poly and UCSD and I fear UCSB, UCLA and UCI are right wound the corner. Everything I have read and heard from SDSU folks is that they are happy there, but I can’t find any real facts or stats on the MechE major. I know it is Accredited (ABET) and they have a brand new engineering building, but how can you know what the reputation is among the employers who hire and recruit from universities? The rankings on USNW are not very informative. Any MechE students or alumni have info to share? Thanks in advance.
The best ME program is the program you get into. 
In all seriousness, we all probably agonize over this too much. My son graduated from Cal Poly with a BS/MS in ME. He had a very good experience. His boss is an authority on what he does and has managed teams at several well known companies (they are at a startup now). He went to a Midwestern school that wouldn’t be on the radar of anyone outside that state. Engineering is very egalitarian. Those who can rise faster than those with less skill. There isn’t a tight fit correlation between that and the undergraduate institution one attended. It’s about curiosity, a solid GPA and strong work ethic.
As for where grads work, LinkedIn can be helpful. Look up SDSU and click Alumni from the menu on the left. When those results come up you can search either what they do (Engineering) or what they studied (Mechanical Engineering), hit the See More tab at the bottom and you’ll get a list. It’s not perfect, but you’ll get an idea.
This is helpful, and I do wholeheartedly agree in that students can make the most of wherever they end up. Good work ethic and people skills go a long way defining success. I do know that some programs are better to equip students for success than others, but I hear you and your tips are helpful. If nothing else for the curiosity factor.
Yes, I agree with above. (I’m mom of graduated engineering student and also 1980s Mechanical Engineering grad myself).
Any ABET accredited engineering program should provide some decent employment opportunities. (If the student tilts toward the top of the class, there could also be some advantages of higher GPA/class rank, better pick for internships, research etc. Adding some interesting extracurricular activities would be great too.) So IN GENERAL, FOR ENGINEERING… A BIG CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE COST AND MINIMIZING DEBT.
To answer OP’s specific questions - For employment sampling info, I often looked at websites from the school career center and/or engineering program for employer hints. Here are some I found with quick google search for SDSU.
https://www.engineering.sdsu.edu/about/internship_guidelines.aspx
engineering.sdsu.edu/about/internship_guidelines.aspx - “We’re committed to inventing a better future, both for the San Diego region, a hot spot of innovation and technology, and for the global community we all share. That’s why we maintain close relationships with San Diego industry that result in extensive partnerships, internships and placement opportunities for our students”
https://www.engineering.sdsu.edu/_resources/images/CoE_FactsAtAGlance_27Jan2020_Final.pdf - Wow, 3700 undergrads (1200 Mech Eng). That should mean a big variety of classes / scheduling options. (My son’s program was one of the tiniest - 10% that size. It was a great fit for him, and no regrets. But it definitely limited his choice on electives, clubs, research etc. A bigger school offers more variety of opportunities.)
https://www.engineering.sdsu.edu/research/researchopportunities/researchopp.aspx - Some interesting undergrad research options
https://sa.sdsu.edu/career/students/job-search-resources
NOTE: College websites are a bit of “advertising”, but still a reasonable starting point for research. You are wise to also seek insights from people familiar with the school. I gave the links above to keep you busy/education … with hopes that somebody familiar with SDSU will reply soon. Normally I’d advise another campus visit, but I assume they are closed due to covid19.
Very helpful @colorado_mom and @eyemgh!
Thank you