Program Analysis
Graduates earn $65,531/yr, roughly in line with the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
With a 15.2x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 17% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Mechanical Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $65,531 far exceeding the $23,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #188 ranking among 320 Mechanical Engineering programs places Cleveland State University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 28% earnings increase from $65,531 to $83,818 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.