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Environmental Technology at Appalachian State University

Boone, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians
51 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
51
Base Case
51
Pessimistic
Earnings $47,333/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Large (68,200 openings/yr)
ROI 17.2x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #4 of 6 Environmental Control Technologies programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Environmental Technology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $520K $519K $492K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.3x 17.2x 16.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.3x 5.3x 5.0x
Probability of Field Employment 56% 52% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 51 51

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,164
Out-of-state: $98,148 (5.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$65,948
-119% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,156
5.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Appalachian State University's Environmental Technology program produces graduates earning $47,333/yr — within striking distance of the $50,644 national average for this field.

The 17.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 24% task exposure — and the 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $22,156 in median debt clears quickly against $47,333 in annual earnings.

With only 6 programs offering Environmental Technology nationally, this is a niche field. Appalachian State University ranks #4 among them.

About Appalachian State University

A 89% acceptance rate means Appalachian State University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 19,304 students in Boone, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at Appalachian State University →

Top Career Paths

Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other $77,390/yr
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers $59,810/yr
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians $58,890/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 6 schools offering Environmental Technology →

Environmental Technology at Other Schools

The University of Findlay ($67,266) Pennsylvania College of Technology ($65,154) Iowa State University ($63,707) North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($47,936) University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla ($12,469)

Other Majors at Appalachian State University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($69,420) Computer Science ($68,675) Construction Management ($59,809) Management Information Systems and Services ($56,650) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($56,340) Accounting and Related Services ($55,671) Insurance ($55,611) Finance and Financial Management Services ($52,004)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Environmental Technology trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Appalachian State University's Environmental Technology program score?
A score of 51/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Appalachian State University trails the majority of Environmental Technology programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →