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Engineering · Engineering Rank #17 of 47

Engineeringat Brown University

Graduates earn $86,416/yr in their first year — about 25.0% above the national Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $964K; scenarios range from $821K to $1,009K depending on AI disruption.

Providence, RI Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
60 SOLID
61
Optimistic
58
Pessimistic
Earnings
$86,416
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.3x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$964K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
51% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Brown University

Brown's esteemed reputation and the unique, interdisciplinary nature of its General Engineering program are key drivers behind the strong career outcomes you've observed. Unlike more specialized programs, Brown's "New Curriculum" encourages a broad, foundational approach, allowing you to deeply customize your studies across diverse engineering fields or even integrate them with other disciplines. This flexibility cultivates highly adaptable problem-solvers, making you exceptionally attractive to a wide array of employers, from established tech giants and engineering consultancies to innovative startups and even non-traditional sectors like finance, often far beyond the local Providence market. The robust national recruiting pipelines and powerful alumni network associated with an Ivy League institution further amplify these opportunities, frequently positioning graduates for leadership or management roles relatively early in their careers. To truly capitalize, actively leverage this curriculum to explore diverse interests and build a distinctive, adaptable skillset that employers highly value.

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
$821K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score58/100
Earnings Multiple3.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$964K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score60/100
Earnings Multiple3.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$1,009K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score61/100
Earnings Multiple3.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where 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
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Engineering

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

Highest earnings
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
MA · Private nonprofit
63
DW Score
$109K
1-yr earn
4.0x
ROI
Harvey Mudd College
CA · Private nonprofit
62
DW Score
$92K
1-yr earn
3.7x
ROI
Top score
University of California-Davis
CA · Public
72
DW Score
$83K
1-yr earn
19.5x
ROI
McNeese State University
LA · Public
72
DW Score
$76K
1-yr earn
28.4x
ROI
Michigan State University
MI · Public
68
DW Score
$75K
1-yr earn
14.1x
ROI
Also at Brown University

Other top programs at Brown University

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

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Engineering offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Engineering at Brown University

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

At 60/100, Brown University's Engineering program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Should I worry about AI if I study Engineering at Brown University?

The 46% 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.

What do students actually pay for Engineering at Brown University?

The 61% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $272,920. At a net cost of $106,288, the earnings multiple improves substantially.