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Mechanical Engineering at Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public · Bachelor's Degree
74 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
76
Optimistic
74
Base Case
71
Pessimistic
Earnings $79,359/yr (13% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)
ROI 16.3x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #52 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs Top 25%

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 $883K $841K $717K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.2x 16.3x 13.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.8x 5.5x 4.7x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 71% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 76 74 71

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,436
Out-of-state: $153,460 (5.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,168
-42% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,932
3.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$95,293
20% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $79,359 at Ohio State University-Main Campus come in 13% above the national median of $70,527 for Mechanical Engineering programs.

The 16.3x 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 $79,359 far exceeding the $19,932 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #52 out of 320 programs, Ohio State University-Main Campus's Mechanical Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $79,359 to $95,293 shows 20% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Ohio State University-Main Campus

A 51% admission rate makes Ohio State University-Main Campus accessible to a wide range of qualified students, one of the larger campuses at 44,617 students in Columbus, OH.

See all programs and financial aid at Ohio State University-Main Campus →

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 Ohio State University-Main Campus

Computer Engineering ($83,342) Applied Mathematics ($82,523) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($82,448) Industrial Engineering ($80,876) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,872) Engineering, Other ($78,734) Chemical Engineering ($77,455) Real Estate ($72,769)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Ohio State University-Main Campus's Mechanical Engineering program score?
A score of 74/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Ohio State University-Main Campus'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.
Why does Ohio State University-Main Campus rank so high for Mechanical Engineering?
The #52 ranking out of 320 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →