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Engineering-Related Fields at Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $76,563/yr (10% vs median)

AI Risk High (38% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (111,400 openings/yr)

ROI 11.8x earnings multiple (4.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #4 of 31 Engineering-Related Fields programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Engineering-Related Fields graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$774K	$754K	$674K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.1x	11.8x	10.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.5x	4.3x	3.9x
Probability of Field Employment	55%	52%	41%
DegreeOutlook Score	71	71	69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$63,952

Out-of-state: $173,488 (4.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$83,004

-30% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,375

3.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$96,014

25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $76,563 at Michigan State University come in 10% above the national median of $69,301 for Engineering-Related Fields programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Engineering-Related Fields programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Engineering-Related Fields's typical career paths, with 38% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 13% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $76,563 far exceeding the $23,375 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #4 of 31 nationally, this is a top-5% Engineering-Related Fields program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $76,563 to $96,014 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Michigan State University

Michigan State University accepts 84% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 40,243 students in East Lansing, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Michigan State University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr

Industrial production managers $121,440/yr

Engineers, all other $117,750/yr

View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Engineering-Related Fields at Other Schools

Other Majors at Michigan State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Engineering-Related Fields at Michigan State University?

This program scores 71/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Engineering-Related Fields nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace Engineering-Related Fields careers?

With 38% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $673,850 in decade earnings vs $774,152 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Michigan State University's Engineering-Related Fields program stand out?

Ranked #4 of 31 programs nationally, Michigan State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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