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Engineering · Environmental Engineering Rank #8 of 47

Environmental Engineeringat Ohio State University-Main Campus

Graduates earn $67,938/yr in their first year — about 7.0% above the national Environmental Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $745K; scenarios range from $651K to $772K depending on AI disruption.

Columbus, OH Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
66 SOLID
67
Optimistic
64
Pessimistic
Earnings
$67,938
1-year post-graduation
ROI
15.3x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$745K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
55% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Ohio State

Ohio State's program in Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering consistently performs as a national leader, a testament to its strong curriculum and the university's broad reach. You'll benefit from the prestige of a major public institution and a robust alumni network, which translates into excellent recruiting pipelines. Columbus's diverse and growing economy, encompassing manufacturing, consulting, and government sectors, creates significant local demand for your skills in designing sustainable solutions and ensuring regulatory compliance. Expect opportunities with major engineering firms, state environmental agencies, and even large industrial employers expanding in Ohio, all seeking expertise in environmental management and public health. While the field faces significant AI risk, the nuanced, site-specific problem-solving and regulatory expertise central to environmental engineering will remain vital. Therefore, prioritize internships and developing strong communication skills to leverage these uniquely human strengths.

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
$651K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score64/100
Earnings Multiple12.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$745K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score66/100
Earnings Multiple14.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$772K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score67/100
Earnings Multiple15.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Ohio State'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 Ohio State 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 Ohio State

Other top programs at Ohio State

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

FAQ

Frequently asked about Environmental Engineering at Ohio State

What does a 66/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Environmental Engineering at Ohio State University-Main Campus?

At 66/100, Ohio State University-Main Campus'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 Ohio State University-Main Campus?

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 Ohio State University-Main Campus one of the best schools for Environmental Engineering?

Among 47 Environmental Engineering programs, Ohio State University-Main Campus's #8 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.