Mechanical Engineeringat Tennessee State University
Graduates earn $58,828/yr in their first year — about 17.0% below the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $621K; scenarios range from $562K to $637K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Tennessee State University
First-year earnings of $58,828 place Tennessee State University below the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.1x 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 12% gap from the optimistic case.
Ranked #291 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, Tennessee State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
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 Tennessee State 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 Tennessee State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Tennessee State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Tennessee State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at Tennessee State University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at Tennessee State University?
This program scores 58/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Mechanical Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $561,772 in decade earnings vs $637,115 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Mechanical Engineering from Tennessee State University?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.