Architectural Engineering at University of Colorado Boulder

CU Boulder's architectural engineering graduates start at $72,567—essentially matching the national median—but carry just $15,165 in debt, which translates to roughly two months of salary. That's an exceptionally manageable debt load for an engineering degree, and it creates immediate financial breathing room that many engineering graduates don't have. The 60th percentile ranking among Colorado programs might seem modest, but context matters: this is the only architectural engineering bachelor's program reporting data in the state, so you're essentially looking at CU Boulder versus CU Boulder.

The caveat here is real: with fewer than 30 graduates in the data set, these numbers could shift significantly year to year. A few graduates taking lower-paying internships or pursuing graduate school immediately could skew the figures. That said, the 13% earnings growth to $82,241 by year four follows a logical trajectory for engineering careers, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21 is remarkable—well below what most engineering programs deliver.

For families prioritizing an in-state option with manageable debt, CU Boulder offers a sensible path into architectural engineering. The relatively high admission rate (83%) makes it accessible, though the SAT average of 1353 suggests solid academic standards. Just recognize that you're working with limited data points, so connecting with recent graduates directly would add valuable context these numbers can't provide.