Program Analysis
Graduates earn $67,764/yr, roughly in line with the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
With a 14.5x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 18% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Mechanical Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $67,764 far exceeding the $24,962 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #171 ranking among 320 Mechanical Engineering programs places University of Minnesota-Duluth in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 34% earnings increase from $67,764 to $91,075 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.