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Engineering · Engineering Rank #14 of 47

Engineeringat Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

Graduates earn $109,455/yr in their first year — about 58.0% above the national Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,010K; scenarios range from $856K to $1,059K depending on AI disruption.

Needham, MA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
63 SOLID
64
Optimistic
60
Pessimistic
Earnings
$109,455
1-year post-graduation
ROI
4.0x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$1,010K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
51% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

Olin's unique, project-based engineering curriculum and highly selective admissions attract a specific type of student, and the strong earnings you see reflect that talent pool. Graduates often find themselves in high-demand engineering roles, particularly in the robust Massachusetts tech and biotech sectors, where companies actively seek engineers with practical problem-solving skills. The small class sizes foster a collaborative environment, but your career trajectory might depend heavily on your proactivity in leveraging professional networks beyond the immediate Olin community.

While these earnings are impressive nationally, consider if they align with your expectations given the intense selectivity. The "High" AI risk for many engineering roles also suggests futureproofing your skills will be crucial. Focus on specializing in areas that complement Olin's generalist foundation, like robotics or advanced materials, to maximize your long-term career resilience.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$856K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score60/100
Earnings Multiple3.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$1,010K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score63/100
Earnings Multiple3.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$1,059K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score64/100
Earnings Multiple4.1x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Franklin W Olin College of Engineering's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Engineering graduates typically work

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.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Engineers, all other
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 9,300 openings/yr
$117,750/yr
Moderate
3
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Engineering

How Franklin W Olin College of Engineering stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Harvey Mudd College
CA · Private nonprofit
62
DW Score
$92K
1-yr earn
3.7x
ROI
Brown University
RI · Private nonprofit
60
DW Score
$86K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
Top score
University of California-Davis
CA · Public
72
DW Score
$83K
1-yr earn
19.5x
ROI
McNeese State University
LA · Public
72
DW Score
$76K
1-yr earn
28.4x
ROI
Michigan State University
MI · Public
68
DW Score
$75K
1-yr earn
14.1x
ROI
Also at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

Other top programs at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Engineering offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Engineering at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

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.