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Mechanical Engineering at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

Tacoma, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
72 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
73
Optimistic
72
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $66,947/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)
ROI 16.9x earnings multiple (5.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #140 of 320 Mechanical Engineering programs Top 50%

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 $911K $866K $735K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.8x 16.9x 14.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.4x 5.1x 4.4x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 71% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 73 72 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,268
Out-of-state: $168,684 (5.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$40,068
22% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$94,653
41% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Washington-Tacoma Campus's Mechanical Engineering program produces graduates earning $66,947/yr — within striking distance of the $70,527 national average for this field.

The 16.9x 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 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Ranked #140 out of 320 programs, University of Washington-Tacoma Campus's Mechanical Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $66,947 to $94,653 shows 41% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

A 83% acceptance rate means University of Washington-Tacoma Campus is accessible to most applicants, with a smaller student body of 3,989 in Tacoma, WA. With 40% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus →

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 Washington-Tacoma Campus

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($86,212) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($81,989) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($73,385) Civil Engineering ($73,357) Finance and Financial Management Services ($63,500) Accounting and Related Services ($62,731) Marketing ($51,530) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($49,004)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Washington-Tacoma Campus's Mechanical Engineering program score?
A score of 72/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Washington-Tacoma Campus'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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →