Environmental Engineeringat University of Nevada-Reno
Graduates earn $65,194/yr in their first year — about 2.0% above the national Environmental Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $661K; scenarios range from $591K to $679K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Nevada-Reno
Graduates earn $65,194/yr, roughly in line with the $63,650 national median for Environmental Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Environmental Engineering programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Environmental Engineering's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 13% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $65,194 far exceeding the $24,357 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #32 of 47 Environmental Engineering programs, University of Nevada-Reno falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Nevada-Reno's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Environmental Engineering
How University of Nevada-Reno stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Nevada-Reno
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Nevada-Reno, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Environmental Engineering at University of Nevada-Reno
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Environmental Engineering at University of Nevada-Reno?
This program scores 57/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Environmental Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $590,783 in decade earnings vs $679,209 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.