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Engineering · Engineering Rank #23 of 47

Engineeringat Mercer University

Graduates earn $72,403/yr in their first year — about 5.0% above the national Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $758K; scenarios range from $667K to $784K depending on AI disruption.

Macon, GA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
57 SOLID
58
Optimistic
55
Pessimistic
Earnings
$72,403
1-year post-graduation
ROI
4.4x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$758K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
51% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Mercer University

Graduates earn $72,403/yr, roughly in line with the $69,222 national median for Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

At 4.6x tuition cost in decade earnings, the ROI is moderate. This program pays for itself, but it's not a financial slam-dunk.

The 15% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

With first-year pay of $72,403 far exceeding the $25,350 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #23 ranking among 47 Engineering programs places Mercer University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

A 22% earnings increase from $72,403 to $88,497 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

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
$667K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score55/100
Earnings Multiple4.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$758K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score57/100
Earnings Multiple4.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$784K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score58/100
Earnings Multiple4.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Mercer University'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 Mercer University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
MA · Private nonprofit
63
DW Score
$109K
1-yr earn
4.0x
ROI
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
Also at Mercer University

Other top programs at Mercer University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Mercer University, 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 Mercer University

What does a 57/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Engineering at Mercer University?

At 57/100, Mercer University's Engineering program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Should I worry about AI if I study Engineering at Mercer University?

The 46% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.