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Mechanical Engineering at Tarleton State University

Stephenville, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $48,585/yr (-31% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 17.1x earnings multiple (7.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #302 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	$544K	$538K	$503K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	17.3x	17.1x	16.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.6x	7.5x	7.0x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	55	54	53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$31,512

Out-of-state: $71,832 (7.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$81,044

-157% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $48,585 place Tarleton State University below the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 17.1x 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 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #302 out of 320 programs, Tarleton State University's financial outcomes for Mechanical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Tarleton State University

Tarleton State University accepts 94% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 12,263 in Stephenville, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Tarleton State 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Tarleton State University's Mechanical Engineering program score?

A score of 54/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Tarleton State University 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.

Why are Mechanical Engineering earnings lower at Tarleton State University?

Lower starting pay at Tarleton State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

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