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Mechanical Engineering at University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $79,016/yr (12% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 17.6x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #15 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	$1,027K	$969K	$808K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.7x	17.6x	14.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.8x	5.4x	4.5x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	77	75	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)

$54,988

Out-of-state: $178,096 (5.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$56,052

-2% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$16,500

2.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$108,947

38% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $79,016 per year, Mechanical Engineering graduates from University of California-Los Angeles earn slightly above the $70,527 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 17.6x 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 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $16,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #15 out of 320 programs, University of California-Los Angeles's Mechanical Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $79,016 to $108,947 shows 38% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of California-Los Angeles

With just 9% of applicants admitted, University of California-Los Angeles ranks among the nation's most selective schools, serving a student body of 33,040 in Los Angeles, CA.

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

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Los Angeles's Mechanical Engineering program score?

A score of 75/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of California-Los Angeles'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 California-Los Angeles rank so high for Mechanical Engineering?

The #15 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.

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