Home › Northeastern University › Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering at Northeastern University

Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $80,255/yr (14% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 3.7x earnings multiple

Ranked #224 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	$977K	$925K	$777K
Earnings Multiple	3.9x	3.7x	3.1x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	64	62	59

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$252,564

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$128,464

49% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,547

3.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$104,723

30% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $80,255/yr, edging above the $70,527 national average for Mechanical Engineering — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

An earnings multiple of 3.7x 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 $25,547 in median debt against $80,255 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #224 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, Northeastern University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $80,255 to $104,723 over five years — a 30% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Northeastern University

Northeastern University admits 6% of applicants — among the most selective institutions in the country, with a mid-sized student body of 15,719 in Boston, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $128,464 — 49% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Northeastern 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

Mechanical Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Northeastern University

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at Northeastern University?

This program scores 62/100 — 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 $777,165 in decade earnings vs $977,379 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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