Home › Compare › Mechanical Engineering › California State University Maritime Academy vs University of Alaska Fairbanks

Mechanical Engineering: California State University Maritime Academy vs University of Alaska Fairbanks

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
California State University Maritime Academy
Vallejo, CA
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK
In-State
32.2x
$30,688 tuition
24.1x
$34,560 tuition
Out-of-State
12.7x
$78,208 tuition
9.2x
$91,008 tuition
$989,340 10-yr earnings · Public
$834,429 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

California State University Maritime Academy University of Alaska Fairbanks
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 32.2x 24.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 12.7x 9.2x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $30,688 $34,560
Year 1 Earnings $92,315 $79,438
10-Year Earnings $989K $834K
Median Debt $19,690 $18,000
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 2.6 months 2.7 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 72/100 70/100

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.

California State University Maritime Academy University of Alaska Fairbanks
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $30,688 $34,560
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $78,208 $91,008
10-Year Projected Earnings $989K $834K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 32.2x 24.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 12.7x 9.2x
5-Year Salary Growth +24% +19%

"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.

California State University Maritime Academy University of Alaska Fairbanks
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $1,050K $989K $823K $876K $834K $713K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 34.2x 32.2x 26.8x 25.3x 24.1x 20.6x
DegreeWorth Score 74 72 66 72 70 64

For the full AI analysis of Mechanical Engineering career paths, see the California State University Maritime Academy or University of Alaska Fairbanks program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

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

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$3,872
California State University Maritime Academy saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$12,877/yr
California State University Maritime Academy grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
32.2x / 24.1x
Out-of-state: 12.7x / 9.2x

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%
Want to compare different schools or majors? Try the freeform comparison tool →

Explore Each Program

Mechanical Engineering at California State University Maritime Academy → Mechanical Engineering at University of Alaska Fairbanks →

More Mechanical Engineering Comparisons

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo vs California State University Maritime Academy California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo vs University of Alaska Fairbanks California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs California State University Maritime Academy California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs University of Alaska Fairbanks California State University Maritime Academy vs California State University-Northridge California State University Maritime Academy vs Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Mechanical Engineering Overview

View all schools offering Mechanical Engineering →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Mechanical Engineering: California State University Maritime Academy or University of Alaska Fairbanks?
California State University Maritime Academy scores 72/100 while University of Alaska Fairbanks scores 70/100. California State University Maritime Academy 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?
California State University Maritime Academy has an in-state earnings multiple of 32.2x vs University of Alaska Fairbanks's 24.1x. That means California State University Maritime Academy grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do California State University Maritime Academy and University of Alaska Fairbanks compare on Mechanical Engineering earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $92,315 at California State University Maritime Academy vs $79,438 at University of Alaska Fairbanks. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $989,340 vs $834,429 — a difference of $154,911.
How much does Mechanical Engineering cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $30,688 at California State University Maritime Academy and $34,560 at University of Alaska Fairbanks. Median debt at graduation is $19,690 vs $18,000. 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.