Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $42,401 track close to the $40,700 national median for Environmental Design programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
The 10.2x 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 — 46% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $22,497 debt-to-$42,401 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
With only 6 programs offering Environmental Design nationally, this is a niche field. University of Colorado Boulder ranks #1 among them.
Earnings growth from $42,401 to $68,017 over five years (60% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.