Program Analysis
At $65,094/yr, Mechanical Engineering graduates from University at Buffalo land near the $70,527 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.2x 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 16% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $21,530 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #173 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, University at Buffalo falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $65,094 to $81,124 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.