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Mechanical Engineering: Arkansas State University vs University of South Florida

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
Arkansas State University
Jonesboro, AR
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL
In-State
22.8x
$31,016 tuition
28.0x
$25,640 tuition
Out-of-State
12.8x
$55,304 tuition
10.4x
$69,296 tuition
$74,284/yr starting · Public
$70,046/yr starting · Public

Head-to-Head

Arkansas State University University of South Florida
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 22.8x 28.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 12.8x 10.4x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $31,016 $25,640
Year 1 Earnings $74,284 $70,046
10-Year Earnings $709K $718K
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 74/100 73/100
Acceptance Rate 69.7% 41.0%

Both programs have very high AI automation risk (53% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Mechanical Engineering graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Mechanical Engineering graduates.

Arkansas State University University of South Florida
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $31,016 $25,640
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $55,304 $69,296
10-Year Projected Earnings $709K $718K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 22.8x 28.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 12.8x 10.4x
5-Year Salary Growth +-1% +30%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Mechanical Engineering (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

Arkansas State University University of South Florida
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $852K $709K $522K $959K $718K $493K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 27.5x 22.8x 16.8x 37.4x 28.0x 19.2x
DegreeWorth Score 76 74 67 76 73 67

For the full AI analysis of Mechanical Engineering career paths, see the Arkansas State University or University of South Florida program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Mechanical Engineering graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$5,376
University of South Florida saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$4,238/yr
Arkansas State University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
22.8x / 28.0x
Out-of-state: 12.8x / 10.4x

Career Paths

Mechanical Engineering graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Architectural and engineering managers $167,740 14,500 +3.8% 41%
Aerospace engineers $134,830 4,500 +6.1% 57%
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120 4,100 +8.1% 50%
Mechanical engineers $102,320 18,100 +9.1% 66%
Cost estimators $77,070 16,900 -4.2% 50%

Explore Each Program

Mechanical Engineering at Arkansas State University → Mechanical Engineering at University of South Florida →

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Mechanical Engineering Overview

View all schools offering Mechanical Engineering →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Mechanical Engineering: Arkansas State University or University of South Florida?
Arkansas State University scores 74/100 while University of South Florida scores 73/100. University of South Florida has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Mechanical Engineering?
Arkansas State University has an in-state earnings multiple of 22.8x vs University of South Florida's 28.0x. That means University of South Florida grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do Arkansas State University and University of South Florida compare on Mechanical Engineering earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $74,284 at Arkansas State University vs $70,046 at University of South Florida. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $708,509 vs $717,994 — a difference of $9,485.
How much does Mechanical Engineering cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $31,016 at Arkansas State University and $25,640 at University of South Florida. Both programs lead to the same Mechanical Engineering career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.