Home › University of San Diego › Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering at University of San Diego

San Diego, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $77,962/yr (11% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 3.8x earnings multiple

Ranked #229 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	$904K	$860K	$731K
Earnings Multiple	4.0x	3.8x	3.2x
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 (Sticker)

$225,776

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$125,060

45% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,187

4.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$97,127

25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $77,962 at University of San Diego come in 11% above the national median of $70,527 for Mechanical Engineering programs.

An earnings multiple of 3.8x 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 19% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $77,962 far exceeding the $26,187 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #229 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, University of San Diego falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $77,962 to $97,127 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of San Diego

A 47% admission rate makes University of San Diego accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a mid-sized student body of 5,619 in San Diego, CA. After financial aid, the average student pays $125,060 over four years — 45% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at University of San Diego →

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

Other Majors at University of San Diego

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering at University of San Diego?

This program scores 61/100 — 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 $731,020 in decade earnings vs $904,484 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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