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Mechanical Engineering Technology at Virginia State University

Petersburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

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 Technology 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 Technology 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 Technology programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Mechanical Engineering Technology'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 Technology 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

Mechanical Engineering Technology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Virginia State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

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 Technology 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 Technology field.

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