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Engineering · Manufacturing Engineering Rank #10 of 14

Manufacturing Engineeringat Bradley University

Graduates earn $67,488/yr in their first year — about 7.0% below the national Manufacturing Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $784K; scenarios range from $687K to $815K depending on AI disruption.

Peoria, IL Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
60 SOLID
61
Optimistic
58
Pessimistic
Earnings
$67,488
1-year post-graduation
ROI
4.6x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$784K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Bradley University

Bradley's Manufacturing Engineering program is inherently specialized, preparing you for a critical role in the industrial heartland. The earnings profile, while shaped by the regional labor market, reflects a consistent demand from major employers like Caterpillar and its extensive supply chain, offering stable careers in process optimization and production management right in your backyard. This program likely emphasizes practical, hands-on experience, fostering strong connections within the local manufacturing ecosystem that translate directly into internships and job placements.

The noted AI risk highlights the evolving nature of the field, not its demise. Your future role will increasingly involve designing, implementing, and overseeing advanced automation and AI-driven systems on factory floors, rather than solely optimizing traditional processes. To thrive, focus on mastering these emerging technologies and leverage the program's regional industry ties to secure internships that expose you to the cutting edge of smart manufacturing.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$687K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score58/100
Earnings Multiple4.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$784K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score60/100
Earnings Multiple4.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$815K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score61/100
Earnings Multiple5.1x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Bradley University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Manufacturing Engineering graduates typically work

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.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Engineers, all other
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 9,300 openings/yr
$117,750/yr
Moderate
3
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
4
Industrial engineers
+11.0% 10-yr growth · 25,200 openings/yr
$101,140/yr
Moderate
5
Cost estimators
-4.2% 10-yr growth · 16,900 openings/yr
$77,070/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Manufacturing Engineering

How Bradley University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Georgia Southern University
GA · Public
66
DW Score
$83K
1-yr earn
34.3x
ROI
Top score
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
CA · Public
76
DW Score
$80K
1-yr earn
30.4x
ROI
Dunwoody College of Technology
MN · Private nonprofit
54
DW Score
$78K
1-yr earn
6.6x
ROI
Grand Valley State University
MI · Public
59
DW Score
$77K
1-yr earn
12.1x
ROI
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
AZ · Public
60
DW Score
$74K
1-yr earn
14.4x
ROI
Also at Bradley University

Other top programs at Bradley University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Bradley University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Manufacturing Engineering at Bradley University

What does a 60/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Manufacturing Engineering at Bradley University?

At 60/100, the score looks reasonable — but Manufacturing Engineering is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.

Should I worry about AI if I study Manufacturing Engineering at Bradley University?

The 47% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.