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Engineering · Mechanical Engineering Rank #39 of 320

Mechanical Engineeringat University of North Florida

Graduates earn $66,743/yr in their first year — about 5.0% below the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $797K; scenarios range from $686K to $833K depending on AI disruption.

Jacksonville, FL Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
74 STRONG
75
Optimistic
71
Pessimistic
Earnings
$66,743
1-year post-graduation
ROI
33.2x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$797K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
57% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of North Florida

University of North Florida's Mechanical Engineering program produces graduates earning $66,743/yr — within striking distance of the $70,527 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 31.2x 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 18% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $19,611 in median debt clears quickly against $66,743 in annual earnings.

At #39 of 320 nationally, this is a top-5% Mechanical Engineering program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $66,743 to $87,430 over five years — a 31% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

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
$686K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score71/100
Earnings Multiple26.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$797K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score74/100
Earnings Multiple31.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$833K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score75/100
Earnings Multiple32.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Mechanical 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
Aerospace engineers
+6.1% 10-yr growth · 4,500 openings/yr
$134,830/yr
High
3
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
4
Mechanical engineers
+9.1% 10-yr growth · 18,100 openings/yr
$102,320/yr
High
5
Cost estimators
-4.2% 10-yr growth · 16,900 openings/yr
$77,070/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 Mechanical Engineering

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

Highest earnings
California State University Maritime Academy
CA · Public
79
DW Score
$92K
1-yr earn
36.4x
ROI
Duke University
NC · Private nonprofit
65
DW Score
$90K
1-yr earn
3.8x
ROI
University of California-Berkeley
CA · Public
76
DW Score
$88K
1-yr earn
17.9x
ROI
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
64
DW Score
$85K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
Princeton University
NJ · Private nonprofit
52
DW Score
$85K
1-yr earn
2.6x
ROI
Also at University of North Florida

Other top programs at University of North Florida

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

FAQ

Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at University of North Florida

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at University of North Florida?

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 $686,040 in decade earnings vs $833,426 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of North Florida's Mechanical Engineering program stand out?

Ranked #39 of 320 programs nationally, University of North Florida lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.