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Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $64,534/yr (-8% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 18.0x earnings multiple (7.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #248 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	$689K	$668K	$595K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.6x	18.0x	16.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.8x	7.5x	6.7x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	61	60	57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$37,016

Out-of-state: $88,880 (7.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$46,052

-24% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

Purdue University Fort Wayne's Mechanical Engineering program produces graduates earning $64,534/yr — within striking distance of the $70,527 national average for this field.

The 18.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 53% task exposure — and the 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #248 out of 320 programs, Purdue University Fort Wayne's financial outcomes for Mechanical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Purdue University Fort Wayne

A 86% acceptance rate means Purdue University Fort Wayne is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 5,450 in Fort Wayne, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Purdue University Fort Wayne →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Purdue University Fort Wayne's Mechanical Engineering program score?

A score of 60/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Purdue University Fort Wayne 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 →