Mechanical Engineeringat Southern Methodist University
Graduates earn $79,280/yr in their first year — about 12.0% above the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $839K; scenarios range from $716K to $881K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Southern Methodist University
First-year earnings of $79,280 at Southern Methodist University come in 12% above the national median of $70,527 for Mechanical Engineering programs.
At 3.3x tuition cost in decade earnings, the ROI is moderate. This program pays for itself, but it's not a financial slam-dunk.
The 19% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Mechanical Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $79,280 far exceeding the $16,188 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #260 ranking among 320 Mechanical Engineering programs places Southern Methodist University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 20% earnings increase from $79,280 to $95,148 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
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 Southern Methodist 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 Southern Methodist University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Southern Methodist University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Southern Methodist University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at Southern Methodist University
What does a 60/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Mechanical Engineering at Southern Methodist University?
At 60/100, the score looks reasonable — but Mechanical Engineering is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Mechanical Engineering at Southern Methodist University?
The 53% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.