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Mechanical Engineering at University of the Pacific

Stockton, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $76,785/yr (9% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)

ROI 4.3x earnings multiple

Ranked #213 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	$997K	$942K	$790K
Earnings Multiple	4.5x	4.3x	3.6x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	71%	50%
DegreeOutlook Score	64	63	60

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$221,360

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$103,704

53% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$28,000

4.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$105,548

37% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of the Pacific's Mechanical Engineering graduates start at $76,785/yr — above the $70,527 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 4.3x 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 21% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $28,000 in median debt clears quickly against $76,785 in annual earnings.

Ranked #213 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs, University of the Pacific falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $76,785 to $105,548 over five years — a 37% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of the Pacific

A 95% acceptance rate means University of the Pacific is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 3,247 students in Stockton, CA. After financial aid, the average student pays $103,704 over four years — 53% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at University of the Pacific →

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 the Pacific

Frequently Asked Questions

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

This program scores 63/100 — 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 $789,572 in decade earnings vs $996,980 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is University of the Pacific a hidden gem for Mechanical Engineering?

After financial aid, the average student pays $103,704 over four years — 53% below the $221,360 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

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