Engineering at Hope College

Holland, MI · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Engineering, General
56 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
57
Optimistic
56
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $67,410/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Medium (27,900 openings/yr)
ROI 4.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #28 of 47 Engineering, General programs

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 $788K $763K $671K
Earnings Multiple 4.9x 4.7x 4.1x
Probability of Field Employment 69% 63% 47%
DegreeOutlook Score 57 56 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$161,680
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$102,996
36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
4.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$87,793
30% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $67,410/yr, roughly in line with the $69,222 national median for Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 4.7x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 46% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $67,410 far exceeding the $27,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #28 out of 47 programs, Hope College's financial outcomes for Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $67,410 to $87,793 shows 30% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Hope College

Hope College accepts 76% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 3,274 students in Holland, MI. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $102,996 — 36% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Hope College →

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 Hope College

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

How does Hope College's Engineering program score?
A score of 56/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Hope College trails the majority of Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 46% 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 →