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Manufacturing Engineering at Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
59 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
60
Optimistic
59
Base Case
57
Pessimistic
Earnings $76,754/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Large (70,000 openings/yr)
ROI 12.8x earnings multiple (9.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #12 of 14 Manufacturing Engineering programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $776K $749K $661K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.3x 12.8x 11.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.3x 9.0x 7.9x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 49%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 59 57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$58,512
Out-of-state: $83,280 (9.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$68,384
-17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,250
3.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $76,754/yr, edging above the $72,238 national average for Manufacturing Engineering — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 12.8x 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 — 47% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $24,250 in median debt against $76,754 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #12 out of 14 programs, Grand Valley State University's financial outcomes for Manufacturing Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State University has a 95% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 19,073 students in Allendale, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Grand Valley State University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Engineers, all other $117,750/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 14 schools offering Manufacturing Engineering →

Manufacturing Engineering at Other Schools

Georgia Southern University ($83,438) California State Polytechnic University-Pomona ($79,549) Dunwoody College of Technology ($77,857) Arizona State University Campus Immersion ($74,119) University of Wisconsin-Stout ($72,830) Oregon State University ($72,154) Oregon State University-Cascades Campus ($72,154) Brigham Young University ($69,520)

Other Majors at Grand Valley State University

Computer Engineering ($80,746) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($80,732) Mechanical Engineering ($75,777) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($74,360) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($71,181) Information Science/Studies ($66,967) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($63,038) Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians ($58,781)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Grand Valley State University's Manufacturing Engineering program score?
A score of 59/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Grand Valley State University trails the majority of Manufacturing Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Manufacturing Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Manufacturing Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% 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 →