Environmental Engineering at Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
38 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
39
Optimistic
38
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings $49,297/yr (-23% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Medium (23,100 openings/yr)
ROI 2.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #47 of 47 Environmental Health Engineering programs

Program Analysis

Your exploration of Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering at Syracuse reveals a challenging path, particularly regarding post-graduation earnings and future career resilience. The regional labor market in Central New York, while offering some municipal and state-level environmental roles, doesn't present the same density of high-paying private sector consulting firms or industrial opportunities found in larger metropolitan hubs. This can limit initial salary potential and long-term growth for graduates seeking roles beyond academia or local government. Additionally, many routine data analysis, modeling, and compliance tasks within environmental engineering are increasingly susceptible to automation. To thrive, you'll need to actively seek out internships in more robust markets and cultivate advanced skills in areas like complex problem-solving, stakeholder management, and sustainability strategy that AI cannot easily replicate. Focus on building a strong network early.

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 $546K $541K $504K
Earnings Multiple 2.2x 2.1x 2.0x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 39 38 37

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$252,244
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$164,104
35% less than sticker · See by income

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University accepts 42% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, enrolling 15,245 students in Syracuse, NY. After financial aid, the average student pays $164,104 over four years — 35% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Syracuse University →

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 Syracuse University

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Syracuse University's Environmental Engineering program score?
This program scores 38/100 — on the lower end for Environmental Engineering. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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 are Environmental Engineering earnings lower at Syracuse University?
Lower starting pay at Syracuse University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →