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Engineering · Mechanical Engineering Rank #49 of 320

Mechanical Engineeringat Stony Brook University

Graduates earn $68,729/yr in their first year — about 3.0% below the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $890K; scenarios range from $752K to $938K depending on AI disruption.

Stony Brook, NY Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
74 STRONG
75
Optimistic
71
Pessimistic
Earnings
$68,729
1-year post-graduation
ROI
22.1x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$890K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
57% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Stony Brook

Stony Brook University's Mechanical Engineering program produces graduates earning $68,729/yr — within striking distance of the $70,527 national average for this field.

With a 21.1x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 20% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Mechanical Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $19,920 in median debt clears quickly against $68,729 in annual earnings.

Stony Brook University ranks #49 among 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

A 42% earnings increase from $68,729 to $97,629 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$752K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score71/100
Earnings Multiple17.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$890K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score74/100
Earnings Multiple21.1x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$938K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score75/100
Earnings Multiple22.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Stony Brook's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Mechanical Engineering graduates typically work

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.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Aerospace engineers
+6.1% 10-yr growth · 4,500 openings/yr
$134,830/yr
High
3
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
4
Mechanical engineers
+9.1% 10-yr growth · 18,100 openings/yr
$102,320/yr
High
5
Cost estimators
-4.2% 10-yr growth · 16,900 openings/yr
$77,070/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Mechanical Engineering

How Stony Brook stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
California State University Maritime Academy
CA · Public
79
DW Score
$92K
1-yr earn
36.4x
ROI
Duke University
NC · Private nonprofit
65
DW Score
$90K
1-yr earn
3.8x
ROI
University of California-Berkeley
CA · Public
76
DW Score
$88K
1-yr earn
17.9x
ROI
Same state (NY)
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
64
DW Score
$85K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
Princeton University
NJ · Private nonprofit
52
DW Score
$85K
1-yr earn
2.6x
ROI
Also at Stony Brook

Other top programs at Stony Brook

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Stony Brook, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at Stony Brook

What does a 74/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Mechanical Engineering at Stony Brook University?

At 74/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.

Should I worry about AI if I study Mechanical Engineering at Stony Brook 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.

Is Stony Brook University one of the best schools for Mechanical Engineering?

Among 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, Stony Brook University's #49 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.