Mechanical Engineeringat Northern Arizona University
Graduates earn $63,252/yr in their first year — about 10.0% below the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $822K; scenarios range from $704K to $862K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Northern Arizona University
First-year earnings of $63,252 track close to the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.2x 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.
At $23,413 in median debt against $63,252 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
At #158 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, Northern Arizona University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Earnings grow from $63,252 to $89,027 over five years — a 41% 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 Northern Arizona 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 Northern Arizona University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Northern Arizona University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Northern Arizona University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at Northern Arizona University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at Northern Arizona University?
This program scores 70/100 — 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 $704,134 in decade earnings vs $862,017 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.