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Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies at Virginia State University

Petersburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
69 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
69
Optimistic
69
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $65,472/yr (5% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (28% exposed)
Job Market Large (87,000 openings/yr)
ROI 16.9x earnings multiple (7.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #16 of 59 Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $671K $660K $612K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.2x 16.9x 15.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.6x 7.5x 7.0x
Probability of Field Employment 55% 52% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 69 69 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)
$39,020
Out-of-state: $88,024 (7.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$58,212
-49% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
4.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$78,831
20% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Virginia State University's Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies graduates start at $65,472/yr — above the $62,227 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies's typical career paths, with 28% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $27,000 in median debt clears quickly against $65,472 in annual earnings.

At #16 of 59 Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies programs, Virginia State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $65,472 to $78,831 over five years — a 20% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Virginia State University

A 89% acceptance rate means Virginia State University is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 4,787 students in Petersburg, VA. Pell Grant recipients make up 71% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia State University →

Top Career Paths

Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians $79,830/yr
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other $77,390/yr
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians $70,760/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 59 schools offering Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies →

Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies at Other Schools

California State University Maritime Academy ($98,661) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach ($93,433) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide ($93,433) Central Connecticut State University ($73,788) Metropolitan State University of Denver ($72,334) New England Institute of Technology ($70,916) Western New England University ($69,326) Rochester Institute of Technology ($69,261)

Other Majors at Virginia State University

Accounting and Related Services ($46,688) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($35,746) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($34,877) Criminal Justice and Corrections ($34,604) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($30,480) Social Work ($28,527) Psychology, General ($28,513) Biology, General ($28,169)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies at Virginia State University?
A score of 69/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →