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Engineering · Environmental Engineering Rank #11 of 47

Environmental Engineeringat Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Graduates earn $66,109/yr in their first year — about 4.0% above the national Environmental Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $697K; scenarios range from $616K to $718K depending on AI disruption.

Fort Collins, CO Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
64 SOLID
65
Optimistic
62
Pessimistic
Earnings
$66,109
1-year post-graduation
ROI
14.1x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$697K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
55% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

At $66,109/yr, Environmental Engineering graduates from Colorado State University-Fort Collins land near the $63,650 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

With a 13.5x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 14% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Environmental Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

The median debt load of $26,747 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Colorado State University-Fort Collins ranks #11 among 47 Environmental Engineering programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

The limited growth from $66,109 to $77,901 over five years suggests earnings in this field plateau relatively early in one's career.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$616K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score62/100
Earnings Multiple11.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$697K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score64/100
Earnings Multiple13.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$718K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score65/100
Earnings Multiple13.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Colorado State University-Fort Collins's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Environmental Engineering graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
+4.4% 10-yr growth · 1,500 openings/yr
$109,660/yr
High
3
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
4
Environmental engineers
+3.9% 10-yr growth · 3,000 openings/yr
$104,170/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Environmental Engineering

How Colorado State University-Fort Collins stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
71
DW Score
$82K
1-yr earn
18.5x
ROI
Texas Tech University
TX · Public
58
DW Score
$77K
1-yr earn
15.2x
ROI
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
GA · Public
68
DW Score
$70K
1-yr earn
17.5x
ROI
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
52
DW Score
$70K
1-yr earn
2.3x
ROI
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
WI · Public
68
DW Score
$69K
1-yr earn
21.5x
ROI
Also at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Other top programs at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Colorado State University-Fort Collins, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Environmental Engineering at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

What does a 64/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Environmental Engineering at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?

At 64/100, Colorado State University-Fort Collins's Environmental Engineering program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Should I worry about AI if I study Environmental Engineering at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?

The 50% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

Is Colorado State University-Fort Collins one of the best schools for Environmental Engineering?

Among 47 Environmental Engineering programs, Colorado State University-Fort Collins's #11 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.