Architectural Engineering: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 16 reporting college programs.
+$154,854 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Auburn University$97,7592Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus$94,4833The University of Texas at Austin$93,7104California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$92,7675University of Cincinnati-Main Campus$92,6876Kansas State University$91,3367University of Colorado Boulder$89,7978Milwaukee School of Engineering$88,7569Drexel University$85,83910Missouri University of Science and Technology$85,754Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auburn UniversityBachelor's Degree | Auburn, AL | $97,759 | $22,000 | +90% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $94,483 | $31,000 | +59% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $93,710 | $25,701 | +88% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $92,767 | $25,116 | +94% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | University of Cincinnati-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Cincinnati, OH | $92,687 | $25,880 | +69% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Kansas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manhattan, KS | $91,336 | $27,000 | +80% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | University of Colorado BoulderBachelor's Degree | Boulder, CO | $89,797 | $15,165 | +59% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Milwaukee School of EngineeringBachelor's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $88,756 | Not available | +62% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Drexel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $85,839 | $31,000 | +22% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | Missouri University of Science and TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Rolla, MO | $85,754 | $27,000 | +66% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Worcester Polytechnic InstituteBachelor's Degree | Worcester, MA | $85,112 | $27,000 | +14% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | University of Nebraska at OmahaBachelor's Degree | Omaha, NE | $84,938 | $19,630 | +71% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | University of KansasBachelor's Degree | Lawrence, KS | $84,319 | $23,000 | +56% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | University of WyomingBachelor's Degree | Laramie, WY | $82,143 | Not available | +58% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | North Carolina A&T State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Greensboro, NC | $73,826 | $28,608 | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | Texas A&M University-KingsvilleBachelor's Degree | Kingsville, TX | $70,912 | $24,743 | +13% | Positive payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.