Mechanical Engineeringat University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Graduates earn $71,406/yr in their first year — about 1.0% above the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $847K; scenarios range from $722K to $889K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Pittsburgh
At $71,406/yr, Mechanical Engineering graduates from University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus land near the $70,527 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.8x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
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 19% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $25,190 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #199 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $71,406 to $93,999 over five years — a 32% 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 Pittsburgh'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 Pittsburgh stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Pittsburgh
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Pittsburgh, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at University of Pittsburgh
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus?
This program scores 67/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Mechanical Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $721,517 in decade earnings vs $889,470 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.