Program Analysis
At $71,569/yr, Mechanical Engineering graduates from Rutgers University-New Brunswick land near the $70,527 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.4x 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 19% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $21,847 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #172 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, Rutgers University-New Brunswick falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $71,569 to $94,837 over five years — a 33% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.