Environmental Engineering at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
66 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
67
Optimistic
66
Base Case
64
Pessimistic
Earnings $68,223/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Medium (23,100 openings/yr)
ROI 14.3x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #9 of 47 Environmental Health Engineering programs Top 25%

Program Analysis

This program's strong performance reflects its practical focus within a region deeply invested in environmental stewardship. Bend's growth, coupled with Oregon's progressive regulatory landscape, creates consistent demand for professionals in water resource management, land use planning, and sustainability consulting. You'll find graduates working with state and local government agencies, regional engineering firms, and environmental consultancies addressing issues unique to the Pacific Northwest. The program's smaller campus size likely fosters more hands-on project experience and direct faculty mentorship, building highly sought-after practical skills. While emerging technologies will reshape engineering roles, your ability to integrate data analysis, policy understanding, and complex problem-solving remains paramount. Therefore, proactively pursue internships; they are crucial for building experience and networking within this specialized regional market.

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $745K $720K $633K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.8x 14.3x 12.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.3x 5.2x 4.5x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 67 66 64

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 (5.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$70,888
-41% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$81,214
19% growth from Year 1

About Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

A 68% admission rate makes Oregon State University-Cascades Campus accessible to a wide range of qualified students, 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
Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors $109,660/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Environmental Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Oregon State University-Cascades Campus's Environmental Engineering program score?
This program scores 66/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Environmental Engineering graduates.
How vulnerable is Environmental Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Environmental Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does Oregon State University-Cascades Campus rank so high for Environmental Engineering?
The #9 ranking out of 47 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 →