Mechanical Engineeringat University of Kansas
Graduates earn $70,726/yr in their first year — right at the national average. Base-case 10-year earnings $850K; scenarios range from $724K to $894K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Kansas
First-year earnings of $70,726 track close to the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.2x 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.
At $20,500 in median debt against $70,726 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
At #80 of 320 nationally, this is a top-5% Mechanical Engineering program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Earnings grow from $70,726 to $94,190 over five years — a 33% 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 University of Kansas'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 University of Kansas stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Kansas
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Kansas, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at University of Kansas
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at University of Kansas?
This program scores 73/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Mechanical Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
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 $724,091 in decade earnings vs $893,538 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Kansas's Mechanical Engineering program stand out?
Ranked #80 of 320 programs nationally, University of Kansas lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.