Mechanical Engineeringat University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Graduates earn $69,178/yr in their first year — about 2.0% below the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $771K; scenarios range from $668K to $805K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Mechanical Engineering program produces graduates earning $69,178/yr — within striking distance of the $70,527 national average for this field.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 26.7x 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 17% gap from the optimistic case.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $26,811 in median debt clears quickly against $69,178 in annual earnings.
At #50 of 320 nationally, this is a top-5% Mechanical Engineering program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Earnings grow from $69,178 to $85,296 over five years — a 23% 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 North Carolina at Charlotte'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 North Carolina at Charlotte stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at University of North Carolina at Charlotte
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at University of North Carolina at Charlotte?
This program scores 74/100 — 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 $667,989 in decade earnings vs $804,911 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Mechanical Engineering program stand out?
Ranked #50 of 320 programs nationally, University of North Carolina at Charlotte lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.