Architectural Engineering at University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree
66 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
68
Optimistic
66
Base Case
64
Pessimistic
Earnings $72,567/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Medium (28,800 openings/yr)
ROI 12.0x earnings multiple (4.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #8 of 12 Architectural Engineering programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $822K $791K $693K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.5x 12.0x 10.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.9x 4.7x 4.1x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 68 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)
$65,720
Out-of-state: $167,772 (4.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$85,920
-31% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,500
2.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$90,523
25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $72,567/yr, roughly in line with the $72,121 national median for Architectural Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 12.0x 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 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $72,567 far exceeding the $14,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #8 out of 12 programs, University of Colorado Boulder's financial outcomes for Architectural Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $72,567 to $90,523 shows 25% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Colorado Boulder

University of Colorado Boulder accepts 83% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 31,578 students in Boulder, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Colorado Boulder →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Engineers, all other $117,750/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Architectural Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Colorado Boulder

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Colorado Boulder's Architectural Engineering program score?
A score of 66/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Colorado Boulder trails the majority of Architectural Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Architectural Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Architectural 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →