Mechanical Engineeringat California State University-Fullerton
Graduates earn $65,252/yr in their first year — about 7.0% below the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $856K; scenarios range from $728K to $900K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at CSU Fullerton
At $65,252/yr, Mechanical Engineering graduates from California State University-Fullerton land near the $70,527 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 30.2x 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 19% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $18,874 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #32 of 320 programs, California State University-Fullerton's Mechanical Engineering program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.
Earnings grow from $65,252 to $93,073 over five years — a 43% 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 CSU Fullerton'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 CSU Fullerton stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at CSU Fullerton
Other highest-scoring programs offered at CSU Fullerton, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at CSU Fullerton
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at California State University-Fullerton?
This program scores 74/100 — 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 $728,058 in decade earnings vs $899,804 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.