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Mechanical Engineering at University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $76,485/yr (8% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 19.9x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #21 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs Top 10%

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	$966K	$915K	$770K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	21.0x	19.9x	16.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.0x	5.7x	4.8x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	77	75	72

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$46,020

Out-of-state: $161,224 (5.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$62,360

-36% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,500

3.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$102,581

34% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $76,485 at University of Maryland-College Park come in 8% above the national median of $70,527 for Mechanical Engineering programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 19.9x 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 20% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $76,485 far exceeding the $19,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #21 of 320 programs, University of Maryland-College Park's Mechanical Engineering program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $76,485 to $102,581 over five years — a 34% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Maryland-College Park

A 45% admission rate makes University of Maryland-College Park accessible to a wide range of qualified students, one of the larger campuses at 30,246 students in College Park, MD.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Maryland-College Park →

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 Maryland-College Park

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at University of Maryland-College Park?

This program scores 75/100 — 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 $769,833 in decade earnings vs $965,794 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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