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Engineering · Engineering Rank #34 of 47

Engineeringat University of Missouri-Columbia

Graduates earn $70,366/yr in their first year — about 2.0% above the national Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $689K; scenarios range from $616K to $708K depending on AI disruption.

Columbia, MO Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
53 AVERAGE
54
Optimistic
52
Pessimistic
Earnings
$70,366
1-year post-graduation
ROI
11.4x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$689K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
51% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Missouri

First-year earnings of $70,366 track close to the $69,222 national median for Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Engineering's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 13% gap from the optimistic case.

At $24,375 in median debt against $70,366 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #34 of 47 Engineering programs, University of Missouri-Columbia falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$616K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score52/100
Earnings Multiple10.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$689K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score53/100
Earnings Multiple12.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$708K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple12.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Missouri's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Engineering graduates typically work

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.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Engineers, all other
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 9,300 openings/yr
$117,750/yr
Moderate
3
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Engineering

How University of Missouri stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
MA · Private nonprofit
63
DW Score
$109K
1-yr earn
4.0x
ROI
Harvey Mudd College
CA · Private nonprofit
62
DW Score
$92K
1-yr earn
3.7x
ROI
Brown University
RI · Private nonprofit
60
DW Score
$86K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
Top score
University of California-Davis
CA · Public
72
DW Score
$83K
1-yr earn
19.5x
ROI
McNeese State University
LA · Public
72
DW Score
$76K
1-yr earn
28.4x
ROI
Also at University of Missouri

Other top programs at University of Missouri

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Missouri, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Engineering offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Engineering at University of Missouri

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Engineering at University of Missouri-Columbia?

This program scores 53/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Will AI replace Engineering careers?

With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $615,768 in decade earnings vs $708,045 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.