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Mechanical Engineering at Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $75,777/yr (7% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 13.0x earnings multiple (9.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #168 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	$796K	$763K	$662K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.6x	13.0x	11.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	9.6x	9.2x	8.0x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	72	70	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)

$58,512

Out-of-state: $83,280 (9.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$68,384

-17% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,012

4.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$85,738

13% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Grand Valley State University's Mechanical Engineering graduates start at $75,777/yr — above the $70,527 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.0x 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 17% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $26,012 in median debt clears quickly against $75,777 in annual earnings.

Ranked #168 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, Grand Valley State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $85,738 are relatively flat compared to the $75,777 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Grand Valley State University

A 95% acceptance rate means Grand Valley State University is accessible to most applicants, 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

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 Grand Valley State University

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at Grand Valley State University?

This program scores 70/100 — 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 $662,266 in decade earnings vs $795,871 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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