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Mechanical Engineering: University of Alaska Fairbanks vs University of California-Berkeley

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
In-State
24.1x
$34,560 tuition
16.4x
$59,400 tuition
Out-of-State
9.2x
$91,008 tuition
5.3x
$182,508 tuition
$834,429 10-yr earnings · Public
$975,793 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

University of Alaska Fairbanks University of California-Berkeley
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 24.1x 16.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.2x 5.3x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $34,560 $59,400
Year 1 Earnings $79,438 $88,497
10-Year Earnings $834K $976K
Median Debt $18,000 $13,000
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 2.7 months 1.8 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 70/100 67/100

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.

University of Alaska Fairbanks University of California-Berkeley
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $34,560 $59,400
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $91,008 $182,508
10-Year Projected Earnings $834K $976K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 24.1x 16.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.2x 5.3x
5-Year Salary Growth +19% +27%

"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.

University of Alaska Fairbanks University of California-Berkeley
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $876K $834K $713K $1,034K $976K $813K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 25.3x 24.1x 20.6x 17.4x 16.4x 13.7x
DegreeWorth Score 72 70 64 70 67 60

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

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

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

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$24,840
University of Alaska Fairbanks saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$9,059/yr
University of California-Berkeley grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
24.1x / 16.4x
Out-of-state: 9.2x / 5.3x

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 University of Alaska Fairbanks → Mechanical Engineering at University of California-Berkeley →

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Mechanical Engineering Overview

View all schools offering Mechanical Engineering →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Mechanical Engineering: University of Alaska Fairbanks or University of California-Berkeley?
University of Alaska Fairbanks scores 70/100 while University of California-Berkeley scores 67/100. University of Alaska Fairbanks 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?
University of Alaska Fairbanks has an in-state earnings multiple of 24.1x vs University of California-Berkeley's 16.4x. That means University of Alaska Fairbanks grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $24,840 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do University of Alaska Fairbanks and University of California-Berkeley compare on Mechanical Engineering earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $79,438 at University of Alaska Fairbanks vs $88,497 at University of California-Berkeley. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $834,429 vs $975,793 — a difference of $141,364.
How much does Mechanical Engineering cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $34,560 at University of Alaska Fairbanks and $59,400 at University of California-Berkeley. Median debt at graduation is $18,000 vs $13,000. 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.