Program Analysis
Graduates earn $71,746/yr, roughly in line with the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
A 5.1x earnings multiple over ten years puts this program in solid financial territory. Tuition is well-justified by projected earnings.
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.
With first-year pay of $71,746 far exceeding the $27,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #232 ranking among 320 Mechanical Engineering programs places Bradley University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 26% earnings increase from $71,746 to $90,408 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.