Home › Auburn University › Environmental Design

Environmental Design at Auburn University

Auburn, AL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
43
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,929/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Large (36,100 openings/yr)
ROI 10.1x earnings multiple (3.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #5 of 6 Environmental Design programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $509K $508K $481K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.2x 10.1x 9.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.8x 3.7x 3.5x
Probability of Field Employment 74% 66% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 45 43 44

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,144
Out-of-state: $135,776 (3.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$95,588
-91% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
6.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $44,929 per year, Environmental Design graduates from Auburn University earn slightly above the $40,700 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Environmental Design programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Environmental Design's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,250 represents roughly 6 months of the $44,929 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

This program is one of 6 schools offering Environmental Design in our dataset — a specialized field with limited comparison points.

About Auburn University

Auburn University accepts 50% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with 25,732 students enrolled in Auburn, AL.

See all programs and financial aid at Auburn University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Architecture teachers, postsecondary $101,480/yr
Architects, except landscape and naval $96,690/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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

Environmental Design at Other Schools

Bowling Green State University-Main Campus ($43,843) University of Colorado Boulder ($42,401) University at Buffalo ($37,952) University of Hawaii at Manoa ($37,849) Arizona State University Campus Immersion ($37,226)

Other Majors at Auburn University

Chemical Engineering ($82,217) Computer Engineering ($80,067) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,680) Architectural Engineering ($77,115) Mechanical Engineering ($74,005) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($72,440) Industrial Engineering ($71,063) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($68,607)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Environmental Design at Auburn University?
A score of 43/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Environmental Design. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Environmental Design careers?
With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $481,486 in decade earnings vs $509,247 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →