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Mechanical Engineering at Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $74,209/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 3.5x earnings multiple

Ranked #314 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	$777K	$746K	$650K
Earnings Multiple	3.6x	3.5x	3.1x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	52	50	47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$212,976

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$108,300

49% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,029

4.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $74,209 at Saint Louis University come in 5% above the national median of $70,527 for Mechanical Engineering programs.

An earnings multiple of 3.5x 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 16% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $74,209 far exceeding the $25,029 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #314 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, Saint Louis University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Saint Louis University

Saint Louis University accepts 81% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 7,324 students in Saint Louis, MO. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $108,300 — 49% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Saint Louis 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 Saint Louis University

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at Saint Louis University?

This program scores 50/100 — 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 $650,480 in decade earnings vs $777,256 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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