Mechanical Engineering at Wright State University-Lake Campus

Celina, OH · Public · Bachelor's Degree
73 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
74
Optimistic
73
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $66,331/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Large (58,100 openings/yr)
ROI 25.5x earnings multiple (11.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #96 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 $797K $764K $663K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 26.6x 25.5x 22.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 11.8x 11.3x 9.8x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 71% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 74 73 70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,016
Out-of-state: $67,688 (11.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$50,412
-68% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,772
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$83,880
26% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $66,331/yr, roughly in line with the $70,527 national median for Mechanical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 25.5x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $66,331 far exceeding the $22,772 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #96 out of 320 programs, Wright State University-Lake Campus's Mechanical Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $66,331 to $83,880 shows 26% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Wright State University-Lake Campus

with a smaller student body of 984 in Celina, OH.

See all programs and financial aid at Wright State University-Lake 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

Mechanical Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Wright State University-Lake Campus

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Wright State University-Lake Campus's Mechanical Engineering program score?
A score of 73/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Wright State University-Lake 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 →