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Mechanical Engineering at University of St Thomas

Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
59 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
61
Optimistic
59
Base Case
57
Pessimistic
Earnings $68,440/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)
ROI 4.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #265 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 $882K $840K $717K
Earnings Multiple 4.2x 4.0x 3.4x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 71% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 61 59 57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$209,136
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$122,100
42% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$92,439
35% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $68,440/yr, Mechanical Engineering graduates from University of St Thomas land near the $70,527 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 4.0x 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 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $27,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #265 out of 320 programs, University of St Thomas's financial outcomes for Mechanical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $68,440 to $92,439 shows 35% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of St Thomas

With 85% of applicants admitted, University of St Thomas prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 6,014 in Saint Paul, MN. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $122,100 — 42% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at University of St Thomas →

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

Compare this program → View all 320 schools offering Mechanical Engineering →

Mechanical Engineering at Other Schools

California State University Maritime Academy ($92,315) Duke University ($89,938) University of California-Berkeley ($88,497) Franklin W Olin College of Engineering ($87,590) Cornell University ($85,440) Princeton University ($85,328) University of Notre Dame ($84,999) Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($83,957)

Other Majors at University of St Thomas

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($78,978) Computer Science ($73,301) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($67,043) Finance and Financial Management Services ($66,006) Accounting and Related Services ($65,573) Economics ($60,323) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($56,401) Human Resources Management and Services ($52,667)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of St Thomas's Mechanical Engineering program score?
A score of 59/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of St Thomas 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 →