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Mechanical Engineering at Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS · Public · Bachelor's Degree
75 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
77
Optimistic
75
Base Case
72
Pessimistic
Earnings $75,161/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)
ROI 21.8x earnings multiple (8.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #22 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs Top 10%

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 $900K $856K $728K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 22.9x 21.8x 18.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.5x 8.1x 6.9x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 71% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 77 75 72

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,260
Out-of-state: $106,320 (8.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$62,004
-58% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,636
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$96,021
28% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $75,161 at Mississippi State University come in 7% above the national median of $70,527 for Mechanical Engineering programs.

The 21.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 53% task exposure — and the 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $75,161 far exceeding the $21,636 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #22 ranking out of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs nationally puts Mississippi State University in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $75,161 to $96,021 shows 28% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University accepts 76% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 18,092 students in Mississippi State, MS.

See all programs and financial aid at Mississippi 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

Compare this program → View all 320 schools offering Mechanical Engineering →

Mechanical Engineering at Other Schools

California State University Maritime Academy ($92,315) Duke University ($89,938) University of California-Berkeley ($88,497) Franklin W Olin College of Engineering ($87,590) Cornell University ($85,440) Princeton University ($85,328) University of Notre Dame ($84,999) Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($83,957)

Other Majors at Mississippi State University

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($80,896) Chemical Engineering ($78,183) Construction Management ($72,712) Computer Engineering ($72,529) Industrial Engineering ($70,703) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($69,056) Engineering, Other ($68,045) Civil Engineering ($65,805)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Mississippi State University's Mechanical Engineering program score?
A score of 75/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Mississippi State University's Mechanical Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Mechanical Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Mechanical Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 53% 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 →