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Mechanical Engineering at California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
74 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
74
Base Case
71
Pessimistic
Earnings $66,462/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)
ROI 27.5x earnings multiple (10.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #33 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs Top 10%

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 $877K $835K $713K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 28.8x 27.5x 23.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 11.2x 10.7x 9.2x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 71% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 74 71

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,408
Out-of-state: $77,928 (10.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$42,048
-38% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,532
3.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$91,357
37% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Sacramento's Mechanical Engineering program produces graduates earning $66,462/yr — within striking distance of the $70,527 national average for this field.

The 27.5x 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 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $16,532 in median debt clears quickly against $66,462 in annual earnings.

A #33 ranking out of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs nationally puts California State University-Sacramento in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $66,462 to $91,357 shows 37% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About California State University-Sacramento

A 94% acceptance rate means California State University-Sacramento is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 27,867 in Sacramento, CA. 49% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Sacramento →

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 California State University-Sacramento

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($116,001) Construction Engineering ($90,836) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($74,450) Civil Engineering ($71,342) Computer Engineering ($66,266) Computer Science ($60,028) Interior Architecture ($50,108) Economics ($49,312)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Sacramento's Mechanical Engineering program score?
A score of 74/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. California State University-Sacramento's Mechanical Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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 →