Program Analysis
Graduates earn $68,265/yr, roughly in line with the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
The 4.0x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.
AI risk is moderate — 53% task exposure — and the 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $68,265 far exceeding the $27,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #283 out of 320 programs, Valparaiso University's financial outcomes for Mechanical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $68,265 to $83,142 shows 22% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.