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Engineering · Environmental Engineering Rank #18 of 47

Environmental Engineeringat University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Graduates earn $57,824/yr in their first year — about 9.0% below the national Environmental Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $819K; scenarios range from $704K to $853K depending on AI disruption.

Ann Arbor, MI Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
62 SOLID
63
Optimistic
60
Pessimistic
Earnings
$57,824
1-year post-graduation
ROI
11.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$819K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
55% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Michigan

This University of Michigan program provides an exceptional engineering foundation, yet its early career earnings often reflect the broad spectrum of roles environmental engineers embrace. Many graduates gravitate towards public sector agencies, sustainability consulting, or non-profits focused on remediation and policy, which may offer different salary trajectories than purely industrial roles. Ann Arbor's strong academic environment also means a notable percentage of graduates pursue advanced degrees or research, delaying their entry into the full-time workforce and influencing initial average earnings. You'll find strong recruiting pipelines into Michigan-based firms, but also national opportunities in areas like water resource management, air quality, and hazardous waste. The high AI risk points to the evolving nature of the field; therefore, actively seek internships that emphasize complex problem-solving, stakeholder engagement, and project management to future-proof your career.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$704K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score60/100
Earnings Multiple10.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$819K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score62/100
Earnings Multiple11.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$853K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score63/100
Earnings Multiple12.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Michigan's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Environmental Engineering graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
+4.4% 10-yr growth · 1,500 openings/yr
$109,660/yr
High
3
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
4
Environmental engineers
+3.9% 10-yr growth · 3,000 openings/yr
$104,170/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Environmental Engineering

How University of Michigan stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
71
DW Score
$82K
1-yr earn
18.5x
ROI
Texas Tech University
TX · Public
58
DW Score
$77K
1-yr earn
15.2x
ROI
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
GA · Public
68
DW Score
$70K
1-yr earn
17.5x
ROI
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
52
DW Score
$70K
1-yr earn
2.3x
ROI
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
WI · Public
68
DW Score
$69K
1-yr earn
21.5x
ROI
Also at University of Michigan

Other top programs at University of Michigan

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Michigan, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Environmental Engineering at University of Michigan

What does a 62/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Environmental Engineering at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor?

At 62/100, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor's Environmental Engineering program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Should I worry about AI if I study Environmental Engineering at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor?

The 50% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.