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Mechanical Engineering at University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, HI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $53,182/yr (-25% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 19.9x earnings multiple (7.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #186 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs

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	$1,026K	$969K	$808K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	21.1x	19.9x	16.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.5x	7.1x	5.9x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	71	69	68

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$48,744

Out-of-state: $136,872 (7.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$52,724

-8% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,629

5.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$98,092

84% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $53,182/yr fall 25% below the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 19.9x 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 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $24,629 in median debt against $53,182 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #186 out of 320 programs, University of Hawaii at Manoa's financial outcomes for Mechanical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $53,182 to $98,092 over five years (84% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Hawaii at Manoa

With a 70% acceptance rate, University of Hawaii at Manoa is moderately selective, with a mid-sized student body of 14,306 in Honolulu, HI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Hawaii at Manoa →

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 Hawaii at Manoa

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Hawaii at Manoa's Mechanical Engineering program score?

A score of 69/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Hawaii at Manoa trails the majority of Mechanical Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.

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 are Mechanical Engineering earnings lower at University of Hawaii at Manoa?

Lower starting pay at University of Hawaii at Manoa may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

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