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Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Atlanta, GA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
75 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
77
Optimistic
75
Base Case
72
Pessimistic
Earnings $78,862/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)
ROI 18.5x earnings multiple (6.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #19 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 $917K $871K $739K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.5x 18.5x 15.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.0x 6.6x 5.6x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 71% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 77 75 72

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$47,056
Out-of-state: $131,504 (6.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$53,156
-13% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,500
3.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$98,607
25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus's Mechanical Engineering graduates start at $78,862/yr — above the $70,527 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.5x 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.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $22,500 in median debt clears quickly against $78,862 in annual earnings.

Ranked #19 of 320 programs, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus's Mechanical Engineering program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $78,862 to $98,607 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Admission to Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus is competitive, with 16% of applicants accepted, with a mid-sized student body of 18,260 in Atlanta, GA.

See all programs and financial aid at Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus →

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)

Compare Mechanical Engineering

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus vs California State University Maritime Academy → Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus vs University of California-Berkeley →

Other Majors at Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($105,137) Computer Engineering ($93,629) Industrial Engineering ($87,826) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($86,865) Chemical Engineering ($85,847) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($79,300) Radio, Television, and Digital Communication ($76,507) Materials Engineering ($76,488)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus?
This program scores 75/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Mechanical Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
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 $739,218 in decade earnings vs $917,437 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →