Having worked in the industry for 25+ years (a Mech Engr graduate myself from another major university), engineering degrees from certain schools are far more desirable than others. UDel doesn’t have the reputation that other schools in area have such as Penn State, Drexel etc.
Not to say anything bad about UDel, but it’s just not the same as other universities with a much longer tenure of being renowned, respected schools.
Go Hokies