Mechanical Engineeringat Cornell University
Graduates earn $85,440/yr in their first year — about 21.0% above the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $999K; scenarios range from $830K to $1,061K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Cornell University
Cornell's stellar reputation and rigorous Mechanical Engineering curriculum mean you're entering a highly competitive talent pool. Your degree opens doors to top-tier employers across aerospace, automotive, energy, and high-tech manufacturing, who actively recruit from Cornell's strong pipeline, regardless of Ithaca's location. This program emphasizes a deep theoretical foundation coupled with hands-on research and design, preparing you for complex roles far beyond basic engineering. While "Very High" AI risk reflects the field's evolving nature, Cornell's focus on critical thinking and interdisciplinary skills positions you to lead and manage these new tools, rather than be replaced by them. You'll find alumni driving innovation at companies like Boeing, Tesla, and General Electric. To truly maximize your outcome, actively seek out research opportunities and internships that push you into emerging areas where human ingenuity still reigns supreme.
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 Cornell University'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 Cornell University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Cornell University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cornell University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University
What does a 64/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University?
At 64/100, the score looks reasonable — but Mechanical Engineering is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University?
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.
What do students actually pay for Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University?
The 51% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $264,056. At a net cost of $129,348, the earnings multiple improves substantially.