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Mechanical Engineering at Union College

Schenectady, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
59
Optimistic
58
Base Case
55
Pessimistic
Earnings $68,407/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)
ROI 3.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #288 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $938K $890K $753K
Earnings Multiple 3.5x 3.3x 2.8x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 71% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 58 55

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$265,824
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$144,000
46% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$97,575
43% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $68,407/yr, roughly in line with the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

An earnings multiple of 3.3x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 20% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $68,407 far exceeding the $27,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #288 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, Union College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $68,407 to $97,575 over five years — a 43% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Union College

A 44% admission rate makes Union College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, a compact campus enrolling 2,070 students in Schenectady, NY. After financial aid, the average student pays $144,000 over four years — 46% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Union College →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Aerospace engineers $134,830/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 320 schools offering Mechanical Engineering →

Mechanical Engineering at Other Schools

California State University Maritime Academy ($92,315) Duke University ($89,938) University of California-Berkeley ($88,497) Franklin W Olin College of Engineering ($87,590) Cornell University ($85,440) Princeton University ($85,328) University of Notre Dame ($84,999) Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($83,957)

Other Majors at Union College

Economics ($62,846) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($62,624) Political Science and Government ($49,759) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($45,516) Neurobiology and Neurosciences ($44,927) Research and Experimental Psychology ($30,061)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at Union College?
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 $752,517 in decade earnings vs $938,442 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →