Mechanical Engineeringat University of Alabama in Huntsville
Graduates earn $73,984/yr in their first year — about 5.0% above the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $807K; scenarios range from $693K to $845K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Alabama in Huntsville
At $73,984/yr, Mechanical Engineering graduates from University of Alabama in Huntsville land near the $70,527 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
The 17.1x 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 — 53% task exposure — and the 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The median debt load of $22,675 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #67 out of 320 programs, University of Alabama in Huntsville's Mechanical Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $73,984 to $90,362 shows 22% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.
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 in Huntsville'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 in Huntsville stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Alabama in Huntsville
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Alabama in Huntsville, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at University of Alabama in Huntsville
How does University of Alabama in Huntsville's Mechanical Engineering program score?
A score of 73/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Alabama in Huntsville's Mechanical Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Mechanical Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Mechanical Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 53% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does University of Alabama in Huntsville rank so high for Mechanical Engineering?
The #67 ranking out of 320 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.