Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $72,606 at California State University-Fullerton come in 5% above the national median of $69,097 for Civil Engineering programs.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 30.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Civil Engineering programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Civil Engineering's typical career paths, with 49% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 18% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $72,606 far exceeding the $13,274 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #8 of 220 nationally, this is a top-5% Civil Engineering program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Earnings grow from $72,606 to $93,096 over five years — a 28% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.