Home › University of California-Berkeley › Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering at University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $88,497/yr (25% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 16.4x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #8 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs Top 5%

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	$1,034K	$976K	$813K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	17.4x	16.4x	13.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.7x	5.3x	4.5x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	77	76	72

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$59,400

Out-of-state: $182,508 (5.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$59,916

-1% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$13,000

1.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$112,325

27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $88,497 put University of California-Berkeley's Mechanical Engineering program 25% above the national median of $70,527 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.4x 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 21% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $88,497 far exceeding the $13,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #8 of 320 nationally, this is a top-5% Mechanical Engineering program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $88,497 to $112,325 over five years — a 27% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of California-Berkeley

University of California-Berkeley's 12% admission rate places it in the top tier of selectivity nationally, serving a student body of 33,073 in Berkeley, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Berkeley →

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

Mechanical Engineering at Other Schools

Compare Mechanical Engineering

Other Majors at University of California-Berkeley

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at University of California-Berkeley?

This program scores 76/100 — 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 $813,258 in decade earnings vs $1,034,396 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of California-Berkeley's Mechanical Engineering program stand out?

Ranked #8 of 320 programs nationally, University of California-Berkeley lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →