Home › The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga › Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Chattanooga, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
72 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
73
Optimistic
72
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $66,517/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)
ROI 19.1x earnings multiple (10.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #132 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs Top 50%

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 $807K $773K $669K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.9x 19.1x 16.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 11.1x 10.6x 9.2x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 71% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 73 72 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$40,576
Out-of-state: $72,832 (10.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,268
-26% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,841
3.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$84,859
28% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's Mechanical Engineering program produces graduates earning $66,517/yr — within striking distance of the $70,527 national average for this field.

The 19.1x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $20,841 in median debt clears quickly against $66,517 in annual earnings.

Ranked #132 out of 320 programs, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's Mechanical Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $66,517 to $84,859 shows 28% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

A 77% acceptance rate means The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is accessible to most applicants, serving 9,878 students in Chattanooga, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga →

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 The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($75,273) Civil Engineering ($65,419) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($65,273) Engineering-Related Fields ($60,284) Computer Science ($59,567) Chemical Engineering ($57,952) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($45,308) Design and Applied Arts ($41,968)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's Mechanical Engineering program score?
A score of 72/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga'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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →