Mechanical Engineeringat University of Alabama at Birmingham
Graduates earn $58,191/yr in their first year — about 17.0% below the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $829K; scenarios range from $709K to $869K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Alabama at Birmingham
Starting salaries of $58,191/yr fall 17% below the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
With a 23.5x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 18% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Mechanical Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $20,250 in median debt against $58,191 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
A #142 ranking among 320 Mechanical Engineering programs places University of Alabama at Birmingham in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
The $58,191-to-$87,901 earnings arc over five years reflects a 51% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.
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 University of Alabama at Birmingham'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 University of Alabama at Birmingham stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Alabama at Birmingham
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Alabama at Birmingham, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at University of Alabama at Birmingham
What does a 71/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Mechanical Engineering at University of Alabama at Birmingham?
At 71/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Mechanical Engineering at University of Alabama at Birmingham?
The 53% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is University of Alabama at Birmingham a good choice for Mechanical Engineering despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If University of Alabama at Birmingham's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.