Mechanical Engineeringat University of California-Los Angeles
Graduates earn $79,016/yr in their first year — about 12.0% above the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $969K; scenarios range from $808K to $1,027K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UCLA
UCLA's Mechanical Engineering program leverages its elite academic standing and strategic Los Angeles location to exceptional effect. Your strong early career trajectory reflects the robust demand from Southern California's diverse industrial ecosystem, spanning aerospace giants like SpaceX and Northrop Grumman, innovative tech startups, and advanced manufacturing operations. The program's rigorous curriculum and strong industry connections mean you're well-prepared for roles in design, analysis, and project management for complex physical systems. While evolving technologies, including AI, will reshape tasks, the core need for engineers to innovate and manage tangible systems remains. To thrive in this dynamic environment, actively seek out internships and participate in design projects that build interdisciplinary skills and expose you to emerging industry applications.
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 UCLA'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 UCLA stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UCLA
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UCLA, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at UCLA
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.