Home › Vanderbilt University › Engineering Science

Engineering Science at Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $81,126/yr (9% vs median)

AI Risk High (46% exposed)

Job Market Medium (27,900 openings/yr)

ROI 3.7x earnings multiple

Ranked #2 of 7 Engineering Science programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Engineering Science graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$980K	$938K	$803K
Earnings Multiple	3.8x	3.7x	3.1x
Probability of Field Employment	73%	67%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	61	60	57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$255,784

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$76,160

70% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,000

2.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$109,116

35% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $81,126 per year, Engineering Science graduates from Vanderbilt University earn slightly above the $74,381 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

An earnings multiple of 3.7x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Engineering Science's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 18% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $15,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

This program is one of 7 schools offering Engineering Science in our dataset — a specialized field with limited comparison points.

Earnings grow from $81,126 to $109,116 over five years — a 35% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Vanderbilt University

With just 6% of applicants admitted, Vanderbilt University ranks among the nation's most selective schools, enrolling 7,143 students in Nashville, TN. The average net cost of $76,160 over four years represents a 70% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Vanderbilt University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr

Engineers, all other $117,750/yr

Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr

View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Engineering Science at Other Schools

Other Majors at Vanderbilt University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Engineering Science at Vanderbilt University?

A score of 60/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Engineering Science field.

Will AI replace Engineering Science careers?

With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $803,004 in decade earnings vs $980,251 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Vanderbilt University a hidden gem for Engineering Science?

After financial aid, the average student pays $76,160 over four years — 70% below the $255,784 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

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