Mechanical Engineeringat University of Southern California
Graduates earn $83,356/yr in their first year — about 18.0% above the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $944K; scenarios range from $791K to $999K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Southern California
Your strong financial outlook as a USC Mechanical Engineering graduate reflects the program's elite standing and its location within a dynamic economic hub. The Viterbi School's deep industry connections in Southern California, particularly with aerospace, defense, and burgeoning tech companies like SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, and JPL, create robust recruiting pipelines. These firms highly value the rigorous analytical and problem-solving skills cultivated here, leading to competitive starting salaries and rapid career progression into roles like design, R&D, and project management. While the field faces some AI-driven disruption, graduates from programs like USC are well-positioned for leadership and innovation. To maximize your long-term success, focus on developing specialized skills in areas like robotics, sustainable energy systems, or advanced materials, ensuring your expertise remains at the forefront of the industry.
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 Southern California'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 Southern California stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Southern California
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Southern California, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at University of Southern California
How does University of Southern California's Mechanical Engineering program score?
A score of 62/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Southern California 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.
How affordable is Mechanical Engineering at University of Southern California after financial aid?
Sticker price is $272,948, but the average net cost is $127,708 — a 53% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.