Manufacturing Engineering at Texas State University

San Marcos, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
71 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
72
Optimistic
71
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $68,886/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Large (70,000 openings/yr)
ROI 16.7x earnings multiple (8.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #6 of 14 Manufacturing Engineering programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Manufacturing Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $791K $763K $671K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.3x 16.7x 14.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.5x 8.2x 7.2x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 49%
DegreeOutlook Score 72 71 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$45,800
Out-of-state: $92,840 (8.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$65,752
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,750
3.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$86,375
25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $68,886 track close to the $72,238 national median for Manufacturing Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 16.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $19,750 in median debt against $68,886 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #6 out of 14 programs, Texas State University's Manufacturing Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $68,886 to $86,375 shows 25% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Texas State University

Texas State University has a 89% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 34,547 students enrolled in San Marcos, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Texas State University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Engineers, all other $117,750/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Manufacturing Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Texas State University

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Texas State University's Manufacturing Engineering program score?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Texas State University's Manufacturing Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Manufacturing Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Manufacturing Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →