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Engineering · Architectural Engineering Rank #4 of 12

Architectural Engineeringat Kansas State University

Graduates earn $74,091/yr in their first year — about 3.0% above the national Architectural Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $767K; scenarios range from $675K to $796K depending on AI disruption.

Manhattan, KS Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
70 STRONG
71
Optimistic
68
Pessimistic
Earnings
$74,091
1-year post-graduation
ROI
19.1x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$767K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
52% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Kansas State University

This program positions you in a highly specialized niche, blending architectural design with deep engineering principles. Graduates are in consistent demand nationwide because few programs offer this integrated expertise, making your skills particularly valuable to large architectural and engineering firms, construction companies, and specialized building systems consultants. These roles often involve designing complex building systems—structural integrity, HVAC, electrical, and plumbing—ensuring performance, sustainability, and safety.

While many technical design and analysis tasks in this field are increasingly augmented by AI, your critical thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and problem-solving skills for unique project challenges become paramount. Focus on developing strong communication, project management, and a nuanced understanding of how integrated systems impact the built environment. Actively pursue internships to gain practical experience and build connections, ensuring you're ready for evolving industry demands.

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
$675K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score68/100
Earnings Multiple15.4x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$767K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score70/100
Earnings Multiple17.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$796K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score71/100
Earnings Multiple18.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Architectural 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
Engineers, all other
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 9,300 openings/yr
$117,750/yr
Moderate
3
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
4
Architecture teachers, postsecondary
+2.0% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$101,480/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Architectural Engineering

How Kansas State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
73
DW Score
$80K
1-yr earn
20.9x
ROI
Auburn University
AL · Public
72
DW Score
$77K
1-yr earn
18.9x
ROI
Same state (KS)
University of Kansas
KS · Public
58
DW Score
$76K
1-yr earn
15.3x
ROI
Drexel University
PA · Private nonprofit
56
DW Score
$76K
1-yr earn
2.8x
ROI
The University of Texas at Austin
TX · Public
72
DW Score
$74K
1-yr earn
20.6x
ROI
Also at Kansas State University

Other top programs at Kansas State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Kansas State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Architectural Engineering at Kansas State University

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.