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Architectural Engineering Technology at Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians
68 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
68
Optimistic
68
Base Case
65
Pessimistic
Earnings $75,913/yr (37% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Medium (21,200 openings/yr)
ROI 18.2x earnings multiple (6.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #1 of 9 Architectural Engineering Technologies programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $757K $728K $645K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.9x 18.2x 16.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.6x 6.3x 5.6x
Probability of Field Employment 55% 49% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 68 68 65

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,968
Out-of-state: $115,176 (6.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,780
-40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,750
2.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$93,412
23% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $75,913 put Purdue University-Main Campus's Architectural Engineering Technology program 37% above the national median of $55,340 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Architectural Engineering Technology programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Architectural Engineering Technology's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 15% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $75,913 far exceeding the $16,750 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

This program is one of 9 schools offering Architectural Engineering Technology in our dataset — a specialized field with limited comparison points.

Earnings grow from $75,913 to $93,412 over five years — a 23% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Purdue University-Main Campus

A 50% admission rate makes Purdue University-Main Campus accessible to a wide range of qualified students, serving a student body of 39,637 in West Lafayette, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Purdue University-Main Campus →

Top Career Paths

Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other $77,390/yr
Architectural and civil drafters $64,280/yr
Civil engineering technologists and technicians $64,200/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 9 schools offering Architectural Engineering Technology →

Architectural Engineering Technology at Other Schools

University of Southern Mississippi ($76,114) Indiana University-Indianapolis ($69,349) Ranken Technical College ($51,903) Seminole State College of Florida ($50,908) New England Institute of Technology ($50,342) SUNY College of Technology at Alfred ($46,044) Farmingdale State College ($41,838) University of Hartford ($35,654)

Other Majors at Purdue University-Main Campus

Computer Science ($94,786) Computer Engineering ($89,965) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($84,300) Industrial Engineering ($81,379) Chemical Engineering ($81,105) Mechanical Engineering ($80,374) Materials Engineering ($78,265) Construction Engineering ($76,966)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Architectural Engineering Technology trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Architectural Engineering Technology at Purdue University-Main Campus?
A score of 68/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Architectural Engineering Technology field.
Will AI replace Architectural Engineering Technology careers?
With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $644,675 in decade earnings vs $756,506 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Purdue University-Main Campus's Architectural Engineering Technology program stand out?
Ranked #1 of 9 programs nationally, Purdue University-Main Campus lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →