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Mechanical Engineering at Cedarville University

Cedarville, OH · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $69,178/yr (-2% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 5.1x earnings multiple

Ranked #255 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	$771K	$741K	$647K
Earnings Multiple	5.3x	5.1x	4.5x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	61	60	57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$144,312

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$100,088

31% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,697

4.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$81,962

18% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $69,178 track close to the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

At 5.1x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 53% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $24,697 in median debt against $69,178 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #255 out of 320 programs, Cedarville University's financial outcomes for Mechanical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $69,178 to $81,962 over five years (18% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Cedarville University

With a 63% acceptance rate, Cedarville University is moderately selective, a compact campus enrolling 3,815 students in Cedarville, OH. After financial aid, the average student pays $100,088 over four years — 31% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Cedarville University →

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

Mechanical Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Cedarville University

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Cedarville University's Mechanical Engineering program score?

A score of 60/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Cedarville University 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 →