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Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
76 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
78
Optimistic
76
Base Case
73
Pessimistic
Earnings $80,374/yr (14% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)
ROI 21.5x earnings multiple (7.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #12 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs Top 5%

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 $903K $859K $730K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 22.6x 21.5x 18.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.8x 7.5x 6.3x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 71% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 78 76 73

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,968
Out-of-state: $115,176 (7.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,780
-40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
2.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$97,551
21% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $80,374 per year, Mechanical Engineering graduates from Purdue University-Main Campus earn slightly above the $70,527 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 21.5x 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 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $19,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #12 out of 320 programs, Purdue University-Main Campus's Mechanical Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $80,374 to $97,551 shows 21% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Purdue University-Main Campus

Purdue University-Main Campus accepts 50% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, serving a student body of 39,637 in West Lafayette, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Purdue University-Main Campus →

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)

Compare Mechanical Engineering

Purdue University-Main Campus vs California State University Maritime Academy → Purdue University-Main Campus vs University of California-Berkeley →

Other Majors at Purdue University-Main Campus

Computer Science ($94,786) Computer Engineering ($89,965) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($84,300) Industrial Engineering ($81,379) Chemical Engineering ($81,105) Materials Engineering ($78,265) Construction Engineering ($76,966) Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($75,913)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Purdue University-Main Campus's Mechanical Engineering program score?
A score of 76/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Purdue University-Main Campus's Mechanical Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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.
Why does Purdue University-Main Campus rank so high for Mechanical Engineering?
The #12 ranking out of 320 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →