Home › University of Colorado Colorado Springs › Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering at University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $70,440/yr (-0% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 20.9x earnings multiple (9.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #36 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs Top 25%

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	$851K	$812K	$697K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	21.9x	20.9x	17.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	10.4x	9.9x	8.5x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	75	74	71

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,848

Out-of-state: $81,968 (9.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$65,724

-69% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,000

3.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$90,079

28% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $70,440/yr, roughly in line with the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 20.9x 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.

With first-year pay of $70,440 far exceeding the $22,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #36 out of 320 programs, University of Colorado Colorado Springs's Mechanical Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $70,440 to $90,079 shows 28% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Colorado Colorado Springs

University of Colorado Colorado Springs accepts 97% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 8,870 in Colorado Springs, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Colorado Colorado Springs →

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

Other Majors at University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Colorado Colorado Springs's Mechanical Engineering program score?

A score of 74/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Colorado Colorado Springs'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 Colorado Colorado Springs rank so high for Mechanical Engineering?

The #36 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 →