Mechanical Engineeringat Utah State University
Graduates earn $69,406/yr in their first year — about 2.0% below the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $790K; scenarios range from $682K to $826K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Utah State University
At $69,406/yr, Mechanical Engineering graduates from Utah State University land near the $70,527 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
With a 21.4x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 18% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Mechanical Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
The median debt load of $13,102 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
A #104 ranking among 320 Mechanical Engineering programs places Utah State University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
A 26% earnings increase from $69,406 to $87,442 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
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 Utah State University'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 Utah State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Utah State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Utah State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at Utah State University
What does a 73/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Mechanical Engineering at Utah State University?
At 73/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Mechanical Engineering at Utah State University?
The 53% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.