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Mechanical Engineering at University of South Alabama

Mobile, AL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $67,175/yr (-5% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 21.0x earnings multiple (10.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #70 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs Top 25%

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	$853K	$814K	$698K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	22.0x	21.0x	18.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	11.4x	10.9x	9.4x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	74	73	70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,704

Out-of-state: $74,608 (10.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$60,568

-56% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,000

4.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$89,384

33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $67,175 track close to the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 21.0x 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 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $24,000 in median debt against $67,175 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #70 out of 320 programs, University of South Alabama's Mechanical Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $67,175 to $89,384 shows 33% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of South Alabama

With a 65% acceptance rate, University of South Alabama is moderately selective, with a mid-sized student body of 8,540 in Mobile, AL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of South Alabama →

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 University of South Alabama's Mechanical Engineering program score?

A score of 73/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of South Alabama'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.

Why does University of South Alabama rank so high for Mechanical Engineering?

The #70 ranking out of 320 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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