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Engineering · Manufacturing Engineering Rank #6 of 14

Manufacturing Engineeringat Texas State University

Graduates earn $68,886/yr in their first year — about 5.0% below the national Manufacturing Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $763K; scenarios range from $671K to $791K depending on AI disruption.

San Marcos, TX Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
71 STRONG
72
Optimistic
69
Pessimistic
Earnings
$68,886
1-year post-graduation
ROI
17.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$763K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Texas State University

Texas State's Manufacturing Engineering program places you right in the heart of a dynamic, growing industrial corridor. While the national average for this niche field includes highly specialized roles at top-tier aerospace or defense firms, your career here will likely benefit from the burgeoning advanced manufacturing sector around Austin and San Antonio—think semiconductor fabrication, electric vehicle production, and other high-tech operations. The slightly lower earnings relative to the national average may reflect the regional market's compensation structure compared to certain coastal hubs, but opportunities are robust and growing.

The high AI risk for this field isn't a threat to your career, but an evolution. Manufacturing engineers are increasingly leveraging AI for process optimization, predictive maintenance, and quality control. Your role will shift towards designing, implementing, and managing these intelligent systems, rather than performing repetitive analytical tasks. Focus on developing strong problem-solving skills, understanding automation frameworks, and gaining practical experience through internships with local manufacturers to ensure you're leading, not just observing, the future of manufacturing.

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
$671K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score69/100
Earnings Multiple14.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$763K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score71/100
Earnings Multiple16.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$791K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score72/100
Earnings Multiple17.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Manufacturing 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
Engineers, all other
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 9,300 openings/yr
$117,750/yr
Moderate
3
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
4
Industrial engineers
+11.0% 10-yr growth · 25,200 openings/yr
$101,140/yr
Moderate
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 Manufacturing Engineering

How Texas State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Georgia Southern University
GA · Public
66
DW Score
$83K
1-yr earn
34.3x
ROI
Top score
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
CA · Public
76
DW Score
$80K
1-yr earn
30.4x
ROI
Dunwoody College of Technology
MN · Private nonprofit
54
DW Score
$78K
1-yr earn
6.6x
ROI
Grand Valley State University
MI · Public
59
DW Score
$77K
1-yr earn
12.1x
ROI
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
AZ · Public
60
DW Score
$74K
1-yr earn
14.4x
ROI
Also at Texas State University

Other top programs at Texas State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Texas State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Manufacturing Engineering at Texas State University

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.