Civil Engineeringat California State University-Long Beach
Graduates earn $73,342/yr in their first year — about 6.0% above the national Civil Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $904K; scenarios range from $776K to $953K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at CSU Long Beach
The strong performance of CSU Long Beach's Civil Engineering program is deeply rooted in its Southern California location, a dynamic hub for constant infrastructure development. You'll find a robust demand for civil engineers in this region, from major transportation projects and port expansions to water resource management and urban planning initiatives. The program likely benefits from strong ties to local government agencies, prominent consulting firms, and construction companies, creating effective recruiting pipelines for graduates into these vital roles.
While the future of engineering will undoubtedly be shaped by AI, the human element in complex project management, regulatory navigation, and on-site problem-solving remains irreplaceable. Your ability to integrate new technologies with critical thinking and leadership will be key. Therefore, focus on internships and projects that emphasize not just technical design, but also communication, project coordination, and adaptability to emerging industry tools, ensuring you develop skills that complement, rather than compete with, AI advancements.
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 CSU Long Beach'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 CSU Long Beach stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at CSU Long Beach
Other highest-scoring programs offered at CSU Long Beach, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Civil Engineering at CSU Long Beach
How does California State University-Long Beach's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 77/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. California State University-Long Beach's Civil Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Civil Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Civil Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 49% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does California State University-Long Beach rank so high for Civil Engineering?
The #3 ranking out of 220 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.