Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University

At $73,355/yr, Mechanical Engineering graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University land near the $70,527 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 11.9x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $22,220 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #190 out of 320 programs, Virginia Commonwealth University's financial outcomes for Mechanical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $73,355 to $87,500 over five years (19% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.