Mechanical Engineeringat California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Graduates earn $75,040/yr in their first year — about 6.0% above the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $910K; scenarios range from $766K to $960K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Cal Poly Pomona
Your strong earnings potential from Cal Poly Pomona's Mechanical Engineering program stems directly from its renowned "learn by doing" philosophy. This hands-on approach, deeply integrated into the curriculum, ensures you're not just theoretically proficient but practically ready for the workforce. The Southern California labor market, rich with opportunities in aerospace, automotive, defense, and advanced manufacturing, actively recruits these well-prepared graduates. Firms across the greater LA area value your immediate contribution. While some design and analysis tasks within mechanical engineering face significant AI disruption, your practical problem-solving skills and project management experience gained here will be highly valued. Focus heavily on internships and collaborative projects throughout your degree; these experiences are crucial for building the resilient skillset employers seek and differentiating yourself in a competitive, evolving market.
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 Cal Poly Pomona'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 Cal Poly Pomona stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Cal Poly Pomona
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cal Poly Pomona, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at Cal Poly Pomona
What does a 76/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Mechanical Engineering at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?
At 76/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Mechanical Engineering at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?
The 53% 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.
Is California State Polytechnic University-Pomona one of the best schools for Mechanical Engineering?
Among 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona's #5 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.