Ocean Engineering at Florida Institute of Technology

Melbourne, FL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
59
Optimistic
58
Base Case
56
Pessimistic
Earnings $68,475/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Medium (27,900 openings/yr)
ROI 4.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #4 of 4 Ocean Engineering programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Ocean Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $862K $830K $722K
Earnings Multiple 4.9x 4.7x 4.1x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 67% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 58 56

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$177,440
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$141,200
20% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$93,498
37% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Florida Institute of Technology's Ocean Engineering program produces graduates earning $68,475/yr — within striking distance of the $69,785 national average for this field.

An earnings multiple of 4.7x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Ocean Engineering's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 16% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $27,000 in median debt clears quickly against $68,475 in annual earnings.

This program is one of 4 schools offering Ocean Engineering in our dataset — a specialized field with limited comparison points.

Earnings grow from $68,475 to $93,498 over five years — a 37% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Florida Institute of Technology

Florida Institute of Technology's 63% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, a smaller institution with 3,235 students in Melbourne, FL.

See all programs and financial aid at Florida Institute of Technology →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Engineers, all other $117,750/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Ocean Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Florida Institute of Technology

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Ocean Engineering at Florida Institute of Technology?
This program scores 58/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Ocean Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Ocean Engineering careers?
With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $722,207 in decade earnings vs $861,877 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →