Civil Engineeringat California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Graduates earn $80,673/yr in their first year — about 17.0% above the national Civil Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $918K; scenarios range from $787K to $969K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Cal Poly SLO
Your strong performance here reflects Cal Poly's renowned 'learn by doing' philosophy, which creates highly sought-after graduates in the civil engineering field. Employers, particularly throughout California's dynamic infrastructure and development sectors, value your immediate readiness for project work. You'll find graduates quickly employed by major engineering firms, state and local agencies like Caltrans, and construction companies tackling critical public works, transportation networks, and sustainable urban design. While AI risk is noted, remember that overseeing complex, site-specific projects and managing human teams demands skills beyond automation. Your best bet for maximizing this robust foundation is to actively pursue multiple internships; these real-world connections are your gateway to early career success and leadership roles.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Cal Poly SLO's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Civil Engineering
How Cal Poly SLO stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Cal Poly SLO
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cal Poly SLO, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Civil Engineering at Cal Poly SLO
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
This program scores 77/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Civil Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Civil Engineering careers?
With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $786,989 in decade earnings vs $969,450 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's Civil Engineering program stand out?
Ranked #1 of 220 programs nationally, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo lands in the top 1%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.