Architectural Sciences and Technology: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 31 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$33,669 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.
With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.
11.4 yrsModeled economic break-even
−12%Modeled 10-year ROI
$69,108Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$69,108Median reported earnings · year 4
$71,518Average reported earnings · year 5
$27,000Median federal debt
61thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
5IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
22With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 6 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
- $55,812
- Federal debt
- $18,500
- Reporting programs
- 5
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $69,108
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 31
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $77,127
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 30
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $71,965
- 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$64,052National median$69,10875th percentile$73,075
22 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.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
31 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA · PublicYear-4 earnings$103,414Federal debt$18,977Annual net price$14,0912University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherst, MA · PublicYear-4 earnings$93,156Federal debt$23,750Annual net price$22,3833Pratt Institute-MainBrooklyn, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$84,447Federal debt$31,000Annual net price$52,6594University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$78,741Federal debt$30,625Annual net price$32,7405Art Center College of DesignPasadena, CA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$77,401Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$48,6616Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$76,367Federal debt$31,000Annual net price$38,7937Oklahoma State University-Main CampusStillwater, OK · PublicYear-4 earnings$73,075Federal debt$28,000Annual net price$17,4478Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$71,914Federal debt$17,315Annual net price$28,6909Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, KY · PublicYear-4 earnings$71,240Federal debt$26,823Annual net price$10,99010New York Institute of TechnologyOld Westbury, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$69,776Federal debt$29,000Annual net price$22,44311New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNewark, NJ · PublicYear-4 earnings$69,456Federal debt$31,000Annual net price$16,50412Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$68,760Federal debt$31,000Annual net price$28,92813University of OregonEugene, OR · PublicYear-4 earnings$67,623Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$22,18214University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL · PublicYear-4 earnings$67,147Federal debt$21,291Annual net price$14,35515Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · PublicYear-4 earnings$66,518Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$28,19816Montana State UniversityBozeman, MT · PublicYear-4 earnings$64,133Federal debt$25,500Annual net price$22,49917Savannah College of Art and DesignSavannah, GA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$64,052Federal debt$24,643Annual net price$49,43018Andrews UniversityBerrien Springs, MI · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$62,157Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$12,54719CUNY New York City College of TechnologyBrooklyn, NY · PublicYear-4 earnings$61,664Federal debt$15,221Annual net price$5,12720Pennsylvania College of TechnologyWilliamsport, PA · PublicYear-4 earnings$58,695Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$25,11021SUNY College of Technology at DelhiDelhi, NY · PublicYear-4 earnings$58,573Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$17,22522University of New Mexico-Main CampusAlbuquerque, NM · PublicYear-4 earnings$50,263Federal debt$22,500Annual net price$15,48923University of ArizonaTucson, AZ · PublicYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$31,000Annual net price$16,67424California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA · PublicYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$23,500Annual net price$16,66525Woodbury UniversityBurbank, CA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$39,750Annual net price$33,692
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Washington-Seattle Campus$103,4142University of Massachusetts-Amherst$93,1563Pratt Institute-Main$84,4474University of Southern California$78,7415Art Center College of Design$77,4016Syracuse University$76,3677Oklahoma State University-Main Campus$73,0758Cornell University$71,9149Western Kentucky University$71,24010New York Institute of Technology$69,776Observed 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.
Architectural 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 percentileArchitecture Teachers, Postsecondary$96,870 median wage7,700 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1031+2.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$58,430–$159,030 10th–90th percentileArchitectural and Engineering Managers$171,270 median wage220,260 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9041+5.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 14.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$120,810–$262,760 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Where this degree has enough data to compare
State pages are published only when at least five operating colleges report year-4 earnings for this exact field and credential.
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 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $103,414 | $18,977 | +147% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstBachelor's Degree | Amherst, MA | $93,156 | $23,750 | +79% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Pratt Institute-MainBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $84,447 | $31,000 | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $78,741 | $30,625 | +9% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Art Center College of DesignBachelor's Degree | Pasadena, CA | $77,401 | Not available | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Syracuse UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $76,367 | $31,000 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Oklahoma State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Stillwater, OK | $73,075 | $28,000 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Cornell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $71,914 | $17,315 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Western Kentucky UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bowling Green, KY | $71,240 | $26,823 | +17% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | New York Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Old Westbury, NY | $69,776 | $29,000 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | New Jersey Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Newark, NJ | $69,456 | $31,000 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Thomas Jefferson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $68,760 | $31,000 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | University of OregonBachelor's Degree | Eugene, OR | $67,623 | Not available | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $67,147 | $21,291 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Temple UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $66,518 | $27,000 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Montana State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bozeman, MT | $64,133 | $25,500 | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Savannah College of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | Savannah, GA | $64,052 | $24,643 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Andrews UniversityBachelor's Degree | Berrien Springs, MI | $62,157 | Not available | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | CUNY New York City College of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $61,664 | $15,221 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Pennsylvania College of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Williamsport, PA | $58,695 | $27,000 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | SUNY College of Technology at DelhiBachelor's Degree | Delhi, NY | $58,573 | Not available | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | University of New Mexico-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $50,263 | $22,500 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | Not available | $31,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $16,674 |
| 24 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | Not available | $23,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $16,665 |
| 25 | Woodbury UniversityBachelor's Degree | Burbank, CA | Not available | $39,750 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $33,692 |
| 26 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | Not available | $24,150 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $11,900 |
| 27 | Illinois Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | Not available | $31,343 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $18,425 |
| 28 | Iowa State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ames, IA | Not available | $31,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $18,589 |
| 29 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | Not available | $29,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $31,944 |
| 30 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | Not available | $30,750 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $24,953 |
| 31 | Washington State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pullman, WA | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $14,971 |
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.