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Engineering · Environmental Engineering Rank #17 of 47

Environmental Engineeringat Northern Arizona University

Graduates earn $62,936/yr in their first year — about 1.0% below the national Environmental Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $641K; scenarios range from $576K to $657K depending on AI disruption.

Flagstaff, AZ Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
62 SOLID
63
Optimistic
59
Pessimistic
Earnings
$62,936
1-year post-graduation
ROI
12.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$641K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
55% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University's Environmental Engineering program produces graduates earning $62,936/yr — within striking distance of the $63,650 national average for this field.

With a 12.7x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 12% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Environmental Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $27,000 in median debt clears quickly against $62,936 in annual earnings.

A #17 ranking among 47 Environmental Engineering programs places Northern Arizona University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The limited growth from $62,936 to $70,453 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
$576K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score59/100
Earnings Multiple11.4x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$641K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score62/100
Earnings Multiple12.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$657K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score63/100
Earnings Multiple13.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Northern Arizona University'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 Northern Arizona University 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 Northern Arizona University

Other top programs at Northern Arizona University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Northern Arizona University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Environmental Engineering at Northern Arizona University

What does a 62/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Environmental Engineering at Northern Arizona University?

At 62/100, Northern Arizona University'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 Northern Arizona University?

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.