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Mechanical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
62 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
63
Optimistic
62
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings $78,182/yr (11% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)
ROI 3.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #225 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 $935K $887K $751K
Earnings Multiple 4.0x 3.8x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 71% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 63 62 58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$236,280
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$173,092
27% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$100,164
28% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $78,182/yr, edging above the $70,527 national average for Mechanical Engineering — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 3.8x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 53% task exposure — and the 20% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $27,000 in median debt against $78,182 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #225 out of 320 programs, Worcester Polytechnic Institute's financial outcomes for Mechanical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $78,182 to $100,164 shows 28% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

With a 58% acceptance rate, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is moderately selective, serving 5,344 students in Worcester, MA.

See all programs and financial aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute →

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

Compare this program → View all 320 schools offering Mechanical Engineering →

Mechanical Engineering at Other Schools

California State University Maritime Academy ($92,315) Duke University ($89,938) University of California-Berkeley ($88,497) Franklin W Olin College of Engineering ($87,590) Cornell University ($85,440) Princeton University ($85,328) University of Notre Dame ($84,999) Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($83,957)

Other Majors at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Computer Science ($93,888) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($89,897) Computer Software and Media Applications ($86,193) Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering ($85,340) Chemical Engineering ($78,767) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($78,283) Industrial Engineering ($77,994) Civil Engineering ($76,419)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Mechanical Engineering program score?
A score of 62/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Worcester Polytechnic Institute 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →