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Mechanical Engineering at University of Georgia

Athens, GA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
61 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
63
Optimistic
61
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings $73,872/yr (5% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)
ROI 16.6x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #231 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 $774K $744K $649K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.3x 16.6x 14.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.4x 6.2x 5.4x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 71% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 63 61 58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,720
Out-of-state: $120,880 (6.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,264
-24% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,383
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $73,872 track close to the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 16.6x 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 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $21,383 in median debt against $73,872 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #231 out of 320 programs, University of Georgia's financial outcomes for Mechanical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About University of Georgia

University of Georgia admits 37% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, serving a student body of 31,310 in Athens, GA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Georgia →

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 University of Georgia

Computer Science ($79,546) Management Information Systems and Services ($78,190) Computer Engineering ($77,882) Civil Engineering ($73,327) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($73,307) Finance and Financial Management Services ($67,444) International Business ($67,371) Biochemical Engineering ($67,201)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Georgia's Mechanical Engineering program score?
A score of 61/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Georgia 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →