Environmental Design: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 13 reporting college programs.
−$136,977 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.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
Observed national outcomes
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.
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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1North Carolina State University at Raleigh$69,8512Auburn University$62,6973University of Colorado Boulder$61,7884Bowling Green State University-Main Campus$59,8735University of Hawaii at Manoa$59,0906Montana State University$57,6687Arizona State University Campus Immersion$56,5618North Dakota State University-Main Campus$55,6479University of Massachusetts-Amherst$55,57110Florida Atlantic University$53,961Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
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 | North Carolina State University at RaleighBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $69,851 | $25,759 | -0% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Auburn UniversityBachelor's Degree | Auburn, AL | $62,697 | $25,375 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | University of Colorado BoulderBachelor's Degree | Boulder, CO | $61,788 | $23,641 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Bowling Green, OH | $59,873 | $27,000 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | University of Hawaii at ManoaBachelor's Degree | Honolulu, HI | $59,090 | $22,047 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Montana State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bozeman, MT | $57,668 | Not available | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $56,561 | $20,500 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | North Dakota State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Fargo, ND | $55,647 | Not available | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstBachelor's Degree | Amherst, MA | $55,571 | $26,000 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Florida Atlantic UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boca Raton, FL | $53,961 | $16,250 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Utah State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Logan, UT | $50,685 | Not available | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | University at BuffaloBachelor's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $49,920 | $19,669 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasBachelor's Degree | San Juan, PR | $35,023 | $5,500 | -146% | Negative payoff |
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.