Mechanical Engineeringat Old Dominion University
Graduates earn $71,774/yr in their first year — about 2.0% above the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $826K; scenarios range from $707K to $867K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University's Mechanical Engineering program produces graduates earning $71,774/yr — within striking distance of the $70,527 national average for this field.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.8x 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.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $25,000 in median debt clears quickly against $71,774 in annual earnings.
At #106 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, Old Dominion University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Earnings grow from $71,774 to $91,945 over five years — a 28% 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 Old Dominion 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 Old Dominion University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Old Dominion University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Old Dominion University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at Old Dominion University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at Old Dominion 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 $707,184 in decade earnings vs $866,828 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.