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Mechanical Engineering at Lipscomb University

Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
52
Optimistic
50
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $67,725/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)
ROI 4.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #315 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 $718K $694K $613K
Earnings Multiple 4.6x 4.5x 3.9x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 71% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 52 50 48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$155,296
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$102,440
34% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,500
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $67,725 track close to the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 4.5x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 53% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $26,500 in median debt against $67,725 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #315 out of 320 programs, Lipscomb University's financial outcomes for Mechanical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Lipscomb University

With a 67% acceptance rate, Lipscomb University is moderately selective, a compact campus enrolling 3,021 students in Nashville, TN. The average net cost of $102,440 over four years represents a 34% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Lipscomb 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 Lipscomb University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($64,954) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($51,379) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($47,655) Marketing ($41,660) Human Resources Management and Services ($38,493) Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) ($32,967) Communication and Media Studies ($31,767) Psychology, General ($28,252)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Lipscomb University's Mechanical Engineering program score?
A score of 50/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Lipscomb University trails the majority of Mechanical Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Mechanical Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Mechanical Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 53% 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 →