Forest Engineering at Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
61 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
62
Optimistic
61
Base Case
60
Pessimistic
Earnings $51,279/yr (0% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Medium (27,900 openings/yr)
ROI 13.7x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #1 of 2 Forest Engineering programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Forest Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $764K $740K $655K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.2x 13.7x 12.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.4x 5.2x 4.6x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 67% 50%
DegreeOutlook Score 62 61 60

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$53,976
Out-of-state: $142,656 (5.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$78,272
-45% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,196
4.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$78,198
52% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $51,279 track close to the $51,279 national median for Forest Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 13.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 46% task exposure — and the 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $19,196 in median debt against $51,279 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

With only 2 programs offering Forest Engineering nationally, this is a niche field. Oregon State University ranks #1 among them.

Earnings growth from $51,279 to $78,198 over five years (52% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Oregon State University

Oregon State University has a 79% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 29,557 students enrolled in Corvallis, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Oregon State University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Engineers, all other $117,750/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Forest Engineering at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Oregon State University's Forest Engineering program score?
This program scores 61/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Forest Engineering graduates.
How vulnerable is Forest Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Forest Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 46% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →