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Mechanical Engineering at University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Lafayette, LA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $63,812/yr (-10% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 20.1x earnings multiple (8.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #118 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs Top 50%

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	$878K	$836K	$714K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	21.1x	20.1x	17.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	9.1x	8.7x	7.4x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	73	72	70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$41,672

Out-of-state: $96,584 (8.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$56,472

-36% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,175

4.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$90,611

42% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Louisiana at Lafayette's Mechanical Engineering program produces graduates earning $63,812/yr — within striking distance of the $70,527 national average for this field.

The 20.1x 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 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $22,175 in median debt clears quickly against $63,812 in annual earnings.

Ranked #118 out of 320 programs, University of Louisiana at Lafayette's Mechanical Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $63,812 to $90,611 shows 42% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Louisiana at Lafayette

A 89% acceptance rate means University of Louisiana at Lafayette is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 12,269 students in Lafayette, LA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Louisiana at Lafayette →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Louisiana at Lafayette's Mechanical Engineering program score?

A score of 72/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Louisiana at Lafayette'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.

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