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Mechanical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $83,957/yr (19% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 3.9x earnings multiple

Ranked #214 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	$989K	$935K	$784K
Earnings Multiple	4.1x	3.9x	3.3x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	65	63	60

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$240,624

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$79,252

67% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$11,507

1.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$106,765

27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Mechanical Engineering graduates start at $83,957/yr — above the $70,527 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 3.9x 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 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $11,507 in median debt clears quickly against $83,957 in annual earnings.

At #214 out of 320 programs, Massachusetts Institute of Technology's financial outcomes for Mechanical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $83,957 to $106,765 shows 27% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Only 5% of applicants gain admission to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, reflecting elite selectivity, a smaller institution with 4,571 students in Cambridge, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $79,252 — 67% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Mechanical Engineering program score?

A score of 63/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Massachusetts Institute of Technology 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.

How affordable is Mechanical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology after financial aid?

Sticker price is $240,624, but the average net cost is $79,252 — a 67% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.

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