Mechanical Engineeringat Arkansas Tech University
Graduates earn $68,765/yr in their first year — about 2.0% below the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $761K; scenarios range from $661K to $794K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Arkansas Tech University
First-year earnings of $68,765 track close to the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 22.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Mechanical Engineering programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Mechanical Engineering's typical career paths, with 53% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 17% gap from the optimistic case.
At $21,953 in median debt against $68,765 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
At #73 of 320 nationally, this is a top-5% Mechanical Engineering program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Earnings grow from $68,765 to $84,124 over five years — a 22% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Arkansas Tech University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Mechanical Engineering
How Arkansas Tech University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Arkansas Tech University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Arkansas Tech University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at Arkansas Tech University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at Arkansas Tech University?
This program scores 73/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Mechanical Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Mechanical Engineering careers?
With 53% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $661,073 in decade earnings vs $793,988 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Arkansas Tech University's Mechanical Engineering program stand out?
Ranked #73 of 320 programs nationally, Arkansas Tech University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.