Mechanical Engineeringat Duke University
Graduates earn $89,938/yr in their first year — about 28.0% above the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,094K; scenarios range from $897K to $1,166K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Duke University
Your Duke Mechanical Engineering degree positions you exceptionally well, largely due to the rigorous curriculum and the university's esteemed reputation within the industry. Employers, from leading aerospace and defense contractors to innovative medical device and automotive companies, actively recruit Pratt graduates, recognizing the strong analytical and problem-solving skills you'll develop. This robust pipeline, fueled by national recruiting efforts and a powerful alumni network, underpins the strong career outcomes.
However, the "Very High" AI risk underscores the critical need to future-proof your skills. Focus on interdisciplinary coursework in robotics, data analytics, or advanced materials, and seek internships that involve AI-driven design tools or automation. This proactive approach will ensure your skills remain at the forefront of the evolving mechanical engineering landscape, enabling you to lead, rather than be displaced by, technological advancements.
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 Duke 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 Duke University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Duke University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Duke University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at Duke University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at Duke University?
This program scores 65/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Mechanical Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $896,828 in decade earnings vs $1,166,421 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.