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Mechanical Engineering at University of Portland

Portland, OR · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $76,909/yr (9% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 3.7x earnings multiple

Ranked #258 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs

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	$854K	$815K	$699K
Earnings Multiple	3.9x	3.7x	3.2x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	62	60	57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$219,600

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$145,484

34% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,681

3.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$91,884

19% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $76,909 at University of Portland come in 9% above the national median of $70,527 for Mechanical Engineering programs.

The 3.7x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 53% task exposure — and the 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $76,909 far exceeding the $23,681 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #258 out of 320 programs, University of Portland's financial outcomes for Mechanical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $76,909 to $91,884 over five years (19% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About University of Portland

University of Portland accepts 95% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 3,104 in Portland, OR. The average net cost of $145,484 over four years represents a 34% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Portland →

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 Portland

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Portland's Mechanical Engineering program score?

A score of 60/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Portland trails the majority of Mechanical Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.

How vulnerable is Mechanical Engineering to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Mechanical Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 53% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

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