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Mechanical Engineering at Florida Polytechnic University

Lakeland, FL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
62 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
63
Optimistic
62
Base Case
60
Pessimistic
Earnings $62,595/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)
ROI 33.0x earnings multiple (7.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #228 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 $671K $652K $583K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 34.0x 33.0x 29.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.0x 7.8x 6.9x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 71% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 63 62 60

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$19,760
Out-of-state: $84,020 (7.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$39,596
-100% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $62,595 track close to the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 33.0x 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 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #228 out of 320 programs, Florida Polytechnic University's financial outcomes for Mechanical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Florida Polytechnic University

With a 56% acceptance rate, Florida Polytechnic University is moderately selective, with a smaller student body of 1,556 in Lakeland, FL.

See all programs and financial aid at Florida Polytechnic University →

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 Florida Polytechnic University

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($70,375) Computer Engineering ($65,126) Computer Software and Media Applications ($61,197)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Florida Polytechnic University's Mechanical Engineering program score?
A score of 62/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Florida Polytechnic University 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →