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Mechanical Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $65,386/yr (-7% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 3.9x earnings multiple

Ranked #282 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	$853K	$814K	$698K
Earnings Multiple	4.1x	3.9x	3.4x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	59	58	55

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$207,052

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$77,412

63% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,000

4.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$88,837

36% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $65,386/yr, roughly in line with the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

An earnings multiple of 3.9x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 18% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $65,386 far exceeding the $25,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #282 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, Illinois Institute of Technology falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $65,386 to $88,837 over five years — a 36% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Illinois Institute of Technology

A 55% admission rate makes Illinois Institute of Technology accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a smaller student body of 2,812 in Chicago, IL. The average net cost of $77,412 over four years represents a 63% discount from published tuition.

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

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 Illinois Institute of Technology

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology?

This program scores 58/100 — 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 $698,207 in decade earnings vs $852,646 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Illinois Institute of Technology a hidden gem for Mechanical Engineering?

After financial aid, the average student pays $77,412 over four years — 63% below the $207,052 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

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