Construction Engineering at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
77 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
78
Optimistic
77
Base Case
74
Pessimistic
Earnings $80,936/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Large (68,400 openings/yr)
ROI 18.8x earnings multiple (6.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #2 of 14 Construction Engineering programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,005K $949K $816K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.0x 18.8x 16.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.2x 6.8x 5.8x
Probability of Field Employment 82% 73% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 78 77 74

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,376
Out-of-state: $139,776 (6.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$70,888
-41% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
3.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$106,199
31% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $80,936 per year, Construction Engineering graduates from Oregon State University-Cascades Campus earn slightly above the $76,543 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 18.8x 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 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $25,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #2 out of 14 programs, Oregon State University-Cascades Campus's Construction Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $80,936 to $106,199 shows 31% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Oregon State University-Cascades Campus accepts 68% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, a smaller institution with 1,054 students in Bend, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Engineers, all other $117,750/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Construction Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Oregon State University-Cascades Campus's Construction Engineering program score?
A score of 77/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Oregon State University-Cascades Campus's Construction Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Construction Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Construction 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.
Why does Oregon State University-Cascades Campus rank so high for Construction Engineering?
The #2 ranking out of 14 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →