Architectural Engineering at Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS · Public · Bachelor's Degree
70 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
71
Optimistic
70
Base Case
68
Pessimistic
Earnings $74,091/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Medium (28,800 openings/yr)
ROI 17.5x earnings multiple (6.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #4 of 12 Architectural Engineering programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Architectural Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $796K $767K $675K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.2x 17.5x 15.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.2x 6.9x 6.1x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 71 70 68

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,768
Out-of-state: $111,264 (6.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$71,532
-63% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,726
4.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$88,031
19% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $74,091/yr, Architectural Engineering graduates from Kansas State University land near the $72,121 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 17.5x 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 — 47% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $26,726 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #4 out of 12 programs, Kansas State University's Architectural Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $74,091 to $88,031 over five years (19% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Kansas State University

With 79% of applicants admitted, Kansas State University prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 14,835 in Manhattan, KS.

See all programs and financial aid at Kansas State University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Engineers, all other $117,750/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Architectural Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Kansas State University

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Kansas State University's Architectural Engineering program score?
A score of 70/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Kansas State University's Architectural Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Architectural Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Architectural Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →