Home › Colorado State University-Fort Collins › Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $60,720/yr (-14% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 16.1x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #185 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	$872K	$831K	$711K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.9x	16.1x	13.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.5x	6.2x	5.3x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	71	69	67

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$51,584

Out-of-state: $135,004 (6.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$81,328

-58% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,708

5.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$89,087

47% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $60,720/yr, roughly in line with the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Mechanical Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Mechanical Engineering's typical career paths, with 53% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 19% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $60,720 far exceeding the $25,708 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #185 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, Colorado State University-Fort Collins falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $60,720 to $89,087 over five years — a 47% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Colorado State University-Fort Collins accepts 90% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 25,148 in Fort Collins, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Colorado State University-Fort Collins →

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 Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?

This program scores 69/100 — 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 $710,697 in decade earnings vs $872,374 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →