Mechanical Engineeringat Washington University in St Louis
Graduates earn $72,057/yr in their first year — about 2.0% above the national Mechanical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $915K; scenarios range from $770K to $966K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Washington University in St Louis
Your Washington University degree in Mechanical Engineering reflects a rigorous education from a highly respected institution, opening doors across various industries. While the St. Louis region offers immediate opportunities, particularly with major aerospace and defense contractors like Boeing, your skills are highly transferable. Many graduates find success nationwide in automotive, energy, or biomedical fields, leveraging WashU's strong alumni network and academic reputation.
The field itself is undergoing significant transformation. The increasing integration of AI means many traditional design, simulation, and analysis tasks are evolving. Your success will increasingly depend on your ability to master and apply these advanced computational tools, moving into roles that require more strategic problem-solving, innovation, and managing AI-driven workflows. To thrive, actively seek internships focused on AI applications or specialized areas like robotics and advanced manufacturing.
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 Washington University in St Louis'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 Washington University in St Louis stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Washington University in St Louis
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Washington University in St Louis, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Mechanical Engineering at Washington University in St Louis
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at Washington University in St Louis?
This program scores 60/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Mechanical Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Mechanical Engineering careers?
With 53% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $770,083 in decade earnings vs $966,193 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Washington University in St Louis a hidden gem for Mechanical Engineering?
After financial aid, the average student pays $88,468 over four years — 65% below the $251,928 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.