Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 10 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Positive payoff
+$16,075 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
The estimate clears the cost within ten years, though your price and time to finish may change the result.
9.4 yrsModeled economic break-even
+6%Modeled 10-year ROI
$71,688Observed earnings · year 4
$21,720Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark is $4,019 per year below this threshold.
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate itObserved national outcomes
$71,688Median reported earnings · year 4
$70,973Average reported earnings · year 5
$23,359Median federal debt
64thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
10IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
9With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $62,985
- Federal debt
- $14,589
- Reporting programs
- 7
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $71,688
- Federal debt
- $23,359
- Reporting programs
- 10
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $110,606
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$66,462National median$71,68875th percentile$82,848
9 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
10 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Purdue University-Main Campus$97,5942Indiana University-Indianapolis$87,1143University of Southern Mississippi$82,8484Seminole State College of Florida$76,7535Ranken Technical College$71,6886New England Institute of Technology$69,5447SUNY College of Technology at Alfred$66,4628University of Hartford$60,7159Ferris State University$54,03110Farmingdale State CollegeNot availableObserved year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$78,350 median wage59,930 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-3029+2.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 5.4k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$47,030–$118,330 10th–90th percentileArchitectural and Civil Drafters$66,150 median wage103,700 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-3011+5.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 9.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$46,260–$99,710 10th–90th percentileCivil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,950 median wage68,520 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-3022+3.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 6.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$44,220–$98,980 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $97,594 | $19,270 | +121% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Indiana University-IndianapolisBachelor's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $87,114 | $21,717 | +86% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | University of Southern MississippiBachelor's Degree | Hattiesburg, MS | $82,848 | $25,000 | +42% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Seminole State College of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Sanford, FL | $76,753 | $18,750 | +47% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Ranken Technical CollegeBachelor's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $71,688 | Not available | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | New England Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | East Greenwich, RI | $69,544 | $32,834 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | SUNY College of Technology at AlfredBachelor's Degree | Alfred, NY | $66,462 | $27,000 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | University of HartfordBachelor's Degree | West Hartford, CT | $60,715 | $27,000 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Ferris State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Big Rapids, MI | $54,031 | Not available | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Farmingdale State CollegeBachelor's Degree | Farmingdale, NY | Not available | $16,825 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $10,867 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.