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Mechanical Engineering at Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $80,259/yr (14% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 13.7x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #87 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$922K	$876K	$742K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.4x	13.7x	11.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.3x	5.0x	4.3x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	74	73	70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$63,952

Out-of-state: $173,488 (5.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$83,004

-30% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,250

3.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$99,381

24% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Michigan State University's Mechanical Engineering graduates start at $80,259/yr — above the $70,527 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.7x 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 20% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $23,250 in median debt clears quickly against $80,259 in annual earnings.

At #87 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, Michigan State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $80,259 to $99,381 over five years — a 24% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Michigan State University

A 84% acceptance rate means Michigan State University is accessible to most applicants, one of the larger campuses at 40,243 students in East Lansing, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Michigan State University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr

Aerospace engineers $134,830/yr

Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr

View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Mechanical Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Michigan State University

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at Michigan 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 $742,075 in decade earnings vs $921,944 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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