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Mechanical Engineering at University of West Florida

Pensacola, FL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $58,548/yr (-17% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 24.3x earnings multiple (8.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #247 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	$635K	$619K	$560K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	24.9x	24.3x	22.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.2x	8.0x	7.3x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	62	60	58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$25,440

Out-of-state: $76,964 (8.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$32,620

-28% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$16,285

3.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $58,548/yr fall 17% below the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 24.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 53% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $16,285 in median debt against $58,548 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #247 out of 320 programs, University of West Florida's financial outcomes for Mechanical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About University of West Florida

With a 57% acceptance rate, University of West Florida is moderately selective, with a mid-sized student body of 9,042 in Pensacola, FL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of West Florida →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of West Florida's Mechanical Engineering program score?

A score of 60/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of West Florida 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.

Why are Mechanical Engineering earnings lower at University of West Florida?

Lower starting pay at University of West Florida may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

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