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Mechanical Engineering at Seattle Pacific University

Seattle, WA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
51 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
53
Optimistic
51
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $71,039/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)
ROI 4.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #313 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 $748K $721K $632K
Earnings Multiple 4.8x 4.6x 4.1x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 71% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 53 51 48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$155,256
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$99,280
36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,949
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Seattle Pacific University's Mechanical Engineering program produces graduates earning $71,039/yr — within striking distance of the $70,527 national average for this field.

An earnings multiple of 4.6x 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.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $26,949 in median debt clears quickly against $71,039 in annual earnings.

Ranked #313 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, Seattle Pacific University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Seattle Pacific University

A 91% acceptance rate means Seattle Pacific University is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 2,073 students in Seattle, WA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $99,280 — 36% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Seattle Pacific 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

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)

Other Majors at Seattle Pacific University

Computer Science ($82,557) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($81,671) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($81,199) Engineering, General ($71,770) Business/Commerce, General ($56,283) Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations ($44,823) Economics ($41,502) Psychology, General ($40,264)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at Seattle Pacific University?
This program scores 51/100 — 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 $632,198 in decade earnings vs $748,373 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →