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Mechanical Engineering at University of Wisconsin-Stout

Menomonie, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
62 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
63
Optimistic
62
Base Case
59
Pessimistic
Earnings $73,260/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)
ROI 18.2x earnings multiple (9.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #227 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 $769K $739K $645K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.9x 18.2x 15.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.3x 9.9x 8.6x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 71% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 63 62 59

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$40,568
Out-of-state: $74,824 (9.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$69,460
-71% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,992
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

University of Wisconsin-Stout's Mechanical Engineering program produces graduates earning $73,260/yr — within striking distance of the $70,527 national average for this field.

The 18.2x 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 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $24,992 in median debt clears quickly against $73,260 in annual earnings.

At #227 out of 320 programs, University of Wisconsin-Stout's financial outcomes for Mechanical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About University of Wisconsin-Stout

A 85% acceptance rate means University of Wisconsin-Stout is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 5,900 in Menomonie, WI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-Stout →

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 Wisconsin-Stout

Computer Engineering ($80,493) Polymer/Plastics Engineering ($75,800) Manufacturing Engineering ($72,830) Construction Management ($72,779) Engineering-Related Fields ($71,117) Engineering Technology, General ($67,461) Applied Mathematics ($67,159) Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications ($66,623)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Wisconsin-Stout's Mechanical Engineering program score?
A score of 62/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Wisconsin-Stout trails the majority of Mechanical Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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 →