Mechanical Engineeringat University of Arkansas
Graduates earn $71,407/yr in their first year — about 1.0% above the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $759K; scenarios range from $660K to $792K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Arkansas
At $71,407/yr, Mechanical Engineering graduates from University of Arkansas land near the $70,527 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 19.5x 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 17% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $21,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #72 of 320 nationally, this is a top-5% Mechanical Engineering program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $84,481 are relatively flat compared to the $71,407 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.
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 Arkansas'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 Arkansas stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Arkansas
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Arkansas, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at University of Arkansas
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at University of Arkansas?
This program scores 73/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Mechanical Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
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 $659,704 in decade earnings vs $791,825 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Arkansas's Mechanical Engineering program stand out?
Ranked #72 of 320 programs nationally, University of Arkansas lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.