Mechanical Engineeringat University of Connecticut
Graduates earn $74,869/yr in their first year — about 6.0% above the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $834K; scenarios range from $713K to $876K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UConn
At $74,869 per year, Mechanical Engineering graduates from University of Connecticut earn slightly above the $70,527 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.2x 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 19% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $22,089 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #193 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, University of Connecticut falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $74,869 to $93,562 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.
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 UConn'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 UConn stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UConn
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UConn, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at UConn
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at University of Connecticut?
This program scores 68/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Mechanical Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $712,715 in decade earnings vs $875,567 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.