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Mechanical Engineering at Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Charleston, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
51 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
53
Optimistic
51
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings $52,602/yr (-25% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)
ROI 11.4x earnings multiple (3.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #310 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Mechanical Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $580K $571K $526K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.5x 11.4x 10.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.9x 3.8x 3.5x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 71% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 53 51 50

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,280
Out-of-state: $149,480 (3.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$84,008
-67% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $52,602/yr fall 25% below the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 11.4x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 53% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $19,500 in median debt against $52,602 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #310 out of 320 programs, Citadel Military College of South Carolina's financial outcomes for Mechanical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Citadel Military College of South Carolina has a 98% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a compact campus enrolling 2,624 students in Charleston, SC.

See all programs and financial aid at Citadel Military College of South Carolina →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Aerospace engineers $134,830/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 320 schools offering Mechanical Engineering →

Mechanical Engineering at Other Schools

California State University Maritime Academy ($92,315) Duke University ($89,938) University of California-Berkeley ($88,497) Franklin W Olin College of Engineering ($87,590) Cornell University ($85,440) Princeton University ($85,328) University of Notre Dame ($84,999) Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($83,957)

Other Majors at Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($72,726) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($71,213) Civil Engineering ($61,163) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($60,791) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($50,004) Criminal Justice and Corrections ($45,235) Political Science and Government ($44,992) Health and Physical Education/Fitness ($43,727)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Citadel Military College of South Carolina's Mechanical Engineering program score?
A score of 51/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Citadel Military College of South Carolina trails the majority of Mechanical Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Mechanical Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Mechanical Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 53% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Mechanical Engineering earnings lower at Citadel Military College of South Carolina?
Lower starting pay at Citadel Military College of South Carolina may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →