Environmental Design: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 13 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$136,977 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.
With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.
21.8 yrsModeled economic break-even
−54%Modeled 10-year ROI
$56,561Observed earnings · year 4
Not reachedMaximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
Four useful answers about Environmental Design
How much do Environmental Design bachelor's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $56,561 four years after completion across reportable bachelor's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $22,844. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Environmental Design?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $53,961 to $59,873 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Environmental Design?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 6 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$64,390
$8,000Annual price−$96,390
$16,000Annual price−$128,390
$18,000Current college-wide context−$136,390
$24,000Annual price−$160,390
$32,000Annual price−$192,390
$40,000Annual price−$224,390
Observed national outcomes
$56,561Median reported earnings · year 4
$57,083Average reported earnings · year 5
$22,844Median federal debt
38thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
16IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
13With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 2 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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.
Median
25th percentile$53,961National median$56,56175th percentile$59,873
13 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$62,697Observed year-4 earnings$35,023
North Carolina State University at Raleigh$17,303 price · $69,851 earningsAuburn University$24,323 price · $62,697 earningsUniversity of Colorado Boulder$25,346 price · $61,788 earningsBowling Green State University-Main Campus$24,022 price · $59,873 earningsUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa$15,664 price · $59,090 earningsMontana State University$22,499 price · $57,668 earningsArizona State University Campus Immersion$14,967 price · $56,561 earningsNorth Dakota State University-Main Campus$15,543 price · $55,647 earningsUniversity of Massachusetts-Amherst$22,383 price · $55,571 earningsFlorida Atlantic University$8,752 price · $53,961 earningsUtah State University$14,936 price · $50,685 earningsUniversity at Buffalo$20,995 price · $49,920 earningsUniversity of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras$9,175 price · $35,023 earnings
$8,752Annual college-wide average net price$24,323
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
13 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1North Carolina State University at Raleigh$69,8512Auburn University$62,6973University of Colorado Boulder$61,7884Bowling Green State University-Main Campus$59,8735University of Hawaii at Manoa$59,0906Montana State University$57,6687Arizona State University Campus Immersion$56,5618North Dakota State University-Main Campus$55,6479University of Massachusetts-Amherst$55,57110Florida Atlantic University$53,961Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary$96,870 median wage7,700 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1031+2.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$58,430–$159,030 10th–90th percentileArchitectural and Engineering Managers$171,270 median wage220,260 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9041+5.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 14.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$120,810–$262,760 10th–90th percentileArchitects, Except Landscape and Naval$99,280 median wage106,770 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-1011+4.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 6.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$62,300–$161,420 10th–90th percentileUrban and Regional Planners$89,320 median wage44,230 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-3051+3.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$60,010–$134,490 10th–90th percentileLandscape Architects$79,870 median wage19,600 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-1012+4.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$54,770–$130,190 10th–90th percentileInterior Designers$67,190 median wage71,500 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-1025+2.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 7.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$41,420–$114,140 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
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 | North Carolina State University at RaleighBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $69,851 | $25,759 | -0% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Auburn UniversityBachelor's Degree | Auburn, AL | $62,697 | $25,375 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | University of Colorado BoulderBachelor's Degree | Boulder, CO | $61,788 | $23,641 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Bowling Green, OH | $59,873 | $27,000 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | University of Hawaii at ManoaBachelor's Degree | Honolulu, HI | $59,090 | $22,047 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Montana State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bozeman, MT | $57,668 | Not available | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $56,561 | $20,500 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | North Dakota State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Fargo, ND | $55,647 | Not available | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstBachelor's Degree | Amherst, MA | $55,571 | $26,000 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Florida Atlantic UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boca Raton, FL | $53,961 | $16,250 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Utah State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Logan, UT | $50,685 | Not available | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | University at BuffaloBachelor's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $49,920 | $19,669 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasBachelor's Degree | San Juan, PR | $35,023 | $5,500 | -146% | Negative 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.