Architectural Engineering Degree in Cincinnati, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Architectural Engineering degree analysis for Cincinnati, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$80K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$112K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.3 yrs
in Cincinnati
Cost of Living
102
index (100 = avg)
Architectural Engineering in Cincinnati, OH Overview
Cincinnati is one of Ohio's top college towns, with 28 institutions and a student population of 32,655. Public tuition averages $12,226/year here — near the national average for public universities. Architectural Engineering has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Structural Systems and Building Physics skills. The adjusted starting salary in Cincinnati is approximately $79,560.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
28
Public Tuition
$12,226/yr
Private Tuition
$43,040/yr
Room & Board
$12,772/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,666/yr
Unemployment
3.1%
Graduation Rate
70%
Architectural Engineering Salary in Cincinnati (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Cincinnati's cost of living index of 102 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Architectural Engineering salary: $78,000 starting, $110,000 mid-career, $140,000 senior level.Cincinnati adjustment factor: 1.02x based on the local cost of living index.
Architectural Engineering ROI Calculator for Cincinnati
Estimate your return on investment for a Architectural Engineering degree using local Cincinnati tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,226 | Private avg: $43,040
Cincinnati avg aid: $12,666/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$99,992
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$43,860
vs HS diploma in Cincinnati
ROI Payback Period
2.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Cincinnati
$1,124,008
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,224,000) minus total education cost ($99,992)
Student Loan Payoff for Architectural Engineering in Cincinnati
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Cincinnati for Architectural Engineering
University of Cincinnati
public
$12,226/yr
$48,904 total
Xavier University
private
$43,040/yr
$172,160 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
$5,004/yr
Top Employers for Architectural Engineering in Cincinnati
Cincinnati offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Architectural Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Cincinnati Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Architectural Engineering Job Titles
Architectural Engineering in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$80K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cleveland, OH
$75K starting · COL 96
20 colleges
Toledo, OH
$84K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Akron, OH
$82K starting · COL 105
5 colleges
Dayton, OH
$81K starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Parma, OH
$70K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$66K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$66K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Cincinnati
Petroleum Engineering
$51K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$84K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$51K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$82K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$82K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$80K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Architectural Engineering Degree in Cincinnati — 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 Cincinnati.