Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $66,546 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 15.2x 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 17% gap from the optimistic case.
At $21,774 in median debt against $66,546 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
Ranked #163 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $66,546 to $86,329 over five years — a 30% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.