Architectural Engineering Degree in Arlington, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Architectural Engineering degree analysis for Arlington, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$73K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$103K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.5 yrs
in Arlington
Cost of Living
93.5
index (100 = avg)
Architectural Engineering in Arlington, TX Overview
Arlington, Texas (pop. 394,266) has 14 colleges offering Architectural Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 93.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $795/month. Architectural Engineering has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Structural Systems and Building Physics skills. The adjusted starting salary in Arlington is approximately $72,930.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$10,900/yr
Private Tuition
$36,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,627/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,822/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
51%
Architectural Engineering Salary in Arlington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Arlington's cost of living index of 93.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Architectural Engineering salary: $78,000 starting, $110,000 mid-career, $140,000 senior level.Arlington adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Architectural Engineering ROI Calculator for Arlington
Estimate your return on investment for a Architectural Engineering degree using local Arlington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,900 | Private avg: $36,000
Arlington avg aid: $14,822/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$102,108
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$40,205
vs HS diploma in Arlington
ROI Payback Period
2.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Arlington
$1,019,892
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,122,000) minus total education cost ($102,108)
Student Loan Payoff for Architectural Engineering in Arlington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Arlington for Architectural Engineering
Arlington State University
public
$11,254/yr
$45,016 total
University of Arlington
public
$12,320/yr
$49,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Arlington Community College
$5,331/yr
Texas Technical College - Arlington
$5,252/yr
Top Employers for Architectural Engineering in Arlington
Arlington offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Architectural Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Arlington Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Architectural Engineering Job Titles
Architectural Engineering in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$90K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$94K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$81K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$83K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$79K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$73K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$64K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Plano, TX
$66K starting · COL 85
9 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Arlington
Petroleum Engineering
$47K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$77K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$47K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$75K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$75K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$73K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Architectural Engineering Degree in Arlington — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Architectural Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Arlington.