Environmental Engineering at University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
64
Optimistic
63
Base Case
61
Pessimistic
Earnings
$63,049/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Medium (23,100 openings/yr)
ROI
11.6x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)
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 | $792K | $764K | $664K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 12.1x | 11.6x | 10.1x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.7x | 4.6x | 4.0x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 73% | 66% | 48% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 64 | 63 | 61 |
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 (4.6x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,836
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$84,918
35% growth from Year 1
About University of Colorado Boulder
A 83% acceptance rate means University of Colorado Boulder is accessible to most applicants, with 31,578 students enrolled in Boulder, CO.
See all programs and financial aid at University of Colorado Boulder →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
Compare & Explore
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Environmental Engineering at University of Colorado Boulder?
A score of 63/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Environmental Engineering field.
Will AI replace Environmental Engineering careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $664,442 in decade earnings vs $792,199 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →