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Mechanical Engineering at Kettering University

Flint, MI · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
64 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
66
Optimistic
64
Base Case
61
Pessimistic
Earnings $79,307/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)
ROI 4.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #209 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 $960K $909K $766K
Earnings Multiple 5.2x 4.9x 4.1x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 71% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 66 64 61

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$185,520
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$132,368
29% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$28,000
4.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$102,774
30% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $79,307/yr, edging above the $70,527 national average for Mechanical Engineering — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

An earnings multiple of 4.9x 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 20% gap from the optimistic case.

At $28,000 in median debt against $79,307 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #209 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, Kettering University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $79,307 to $102,774 over five years — a 30% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Kettering University

Kettering University has a 79% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a compact campus enrolling 1,279 students in Flint, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Kettering 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

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)

Other Majors at Kettering University

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($86,360) Industrial Engineering ($85,105) Computer Science ($83,751) Computer Engineering ($82,580) Chemical Engineering ($71,411)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at Kettering University?
This program scores 64/100 — 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 $765,867 in decade earnings vs $959,530 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →