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Engineering · Civil Engineering Rank #195 of 220

Civil Engineeringat Bucknell University

Graduates earn $80,231/yr in their first year — about 16.0% above the national Civil Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $795K; scenarios range from $696K to $831K depending on AI disruption.

Lewisburg, PA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
59 SOLID
60
Optimistic
56
Pessimistic
Earnings
$80,231
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.4x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$795K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
55% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Bucknell University

First-year earnings of $80,231 at Bucknell University come in 16% above the national median of $69,097 for Civil Engineering programs.

At 3.1x tuition cost in decade earnings, the ROI is moderate. This program pays for itself, but it's not a financial slam-dunk.

The 16% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Civil Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

With first-year pay of $80,231 far exceeding the $27,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #195 ranking among 220 Civil Engineering programs places Bucknell University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The limited growth from $80,231 to $88,296 over five years suggests earnings in this field plateau relatively early in one's career.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$696K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score56/100
Earnings Multiple2.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$795K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score59/100
Earnings Multiple3.1x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$831K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score60/100
Earnings Multiple3.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Bucknell University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Civil Engineering graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Petroleum engineers
+1.3% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$141,280/yr
High
3
Engineers, all other
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 9,300 openings/yr
$117,750/yr
Moderate
4
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
5
Environmental engineers
+3.9% 10-yr growth · 3,000 openings/yr
$104,170/yr
High
6
Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers
+0.7% 10-yr growth · 400 openings/yr
$101,020/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Civil Engineering

How Bucknell University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Loyola Marymount University
CA · Private nonprofit
53
DW Score
$88K
1-yr earn
2.7x
ROI
University of Southern California
CA · Private nonprofit
65
DW Score
$85K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
Top score
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
77
DW Score
$81K
1-yr earn
21.9x
ROI
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
61
DW Score
$80K
1-yr earn
2.8x
ROI
University of California-Berkeley
CA · Public
75
DW Score
$78K
1-yr earn
16.6x
ROI
Also at Bucknell University

Other top programs at Bucknell University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Bucknell University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Civil Engineering at Bucknell University

What does a 59/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Civil Engineering at Bucknell University?

At 59/100, the score looks reasonable — but Civil Engineering is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.

Should I worry about AI if I study Civil Engineering at Bucknell University?

The 49% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.