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Engineering at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

Needham, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Engineering, General

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $109,455/yr (58% vs median)

AI Risk High (46% exposed)

Job Market Medium (27,900 openings/yr)

ROI 3.9x earnings multiple

Ranked #14 of 47 Engineering, General programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$1,059K	$1,010K	$856K
Earnings Multiple	4.1x	3.9x	3.3x
Probability of Field Employment	69%	63%	47%
DegreeOutlook Score	64	63	60

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$257,832

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$82,300

68% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,512

1.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$128,427

17% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $109,455 put Franklin W Olin College of Engineering's Engineering program 58% above the national median of $69,222 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

An earnings multiple of 3.9x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Engineering's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 19% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $109,455 far exceeding the $14,512 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #14 of 47 Engineering programs, Franklin W Olin College of Engineering scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $128,427 are relatively flat compared to the $109,455 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

Franklin W Olin College of Engineering accepts 22% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, a smaller institution with 373 students in Needham, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $82,300 — 68% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr

Engineers, all other $117,750/yr

Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr

View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Engineering at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering?

A score of 63/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Engineering field.

Will AI replace Engineering careers?

With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $855,533 in decade earnings vs $1,059,314 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Franklin W Olin College of Engineering a hidden gem for Engineering?

After financial aid, the average student pays $82,300 over four years — 68% below the $257,832 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →