Environmental Engineering at Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
49 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
50
Optimistic
49
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $60,098/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Medium (23,100 openings/yr)
ROI 3.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #43 of 47 Environmental Health Engineering programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $655K $640K $575K
Earnings Multiple 3.9x 3.8x 3.4x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 50 49 47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$169,144
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$110,800
34% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
5.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$69,726
16% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $60,098/yr, roughly in line with the $63,650 national median for Environmental Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

An earnings multiple of 3.8x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 12% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $60,098 far exceeding the $27,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #43 of 47 Environmental Engineering programs, Wilkes University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $69,726 are relatively flat compared to the $60,098 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Wilkes University

Wilkes University accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 1,893 students in Wilkes-Barre, PA. The average net cost of $110,800 over four years represents a 34% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Wilkes University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors $109,660/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Environmental Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Wilkes University

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Environmental Engineering at Wilkes University?
A score of 49/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Environmental Engineering. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $575,033 in decade earnings vs $655,048 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →