Mechanical Engineeringat Kansas State University
Graduates earn $72,627/yr in their first year — about 3.0% above the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $804K; scenarios range from $692K to $842K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Kansas State University
Graduates earn $72,627/yr, roughly in line with the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Mechanical Engineering programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Mechanical Engineering's typical career paths, with 53% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 18% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $72,627 far exceeding the $22,116 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #81 of 320 nationally, this is a top-5% Mechanical Engineering program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Earnings grow from $72,627 to $89,754 over five years — a 24% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.
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 Kansas State 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 Kansas State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Kansas State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Kansas State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at Kansas State University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at Kansas State University?
This program scores 73/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Mechanical Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
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 $691,524 in decade earnings vs $842,091 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Kansas State University's Mechanical Engineering program stand out?
Ranked #81 of 320 programs nationally, Kansas State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.