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Civil Engineering at California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
73 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
73
Base Case
72
Pessimistic
Earnings $62,768/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 29.7x earnings multiple (11.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #35 of 220 Civil Engineering programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Civil Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $884K $842K $731K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 31.2x 29.7x 25.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 11.6x 11.1x 9.6x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 73 72

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,380
Out-of-state: $75,900 (11.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$30,396
-7% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,834
3.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$88,971
42% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Northridge's Civil Engineering program produces graduates earning $62,768/yr — within striking distance of the $69,097 national average for this field.

The 29.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $19,834 in median debt clears quickly against $62,768 in annual earnings.

Ranked #35 out of 220 programs, California State University-Northridge's Civil Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $62,768 to $88,971 shows 42% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About California State University-Northridge

A 93% acceptance rate means California State University-Northridge is accessible to most applicants, with 32,357 students enrolled in Northridge, CA. With 56% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Northridge →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Petroleum engineers $141,280/yr
Engineers, all other $117,750/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 220 schools offering Civil Engineering →

Civil Engineering at Other Schools

Loyola Marymount University ($87,790) University of Southern California ($85,262) Santa Clara University ($84,883) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($80,673) Montana Technological University ($80,327) Cornell University ($80,261) Bucknell University ($80,231) University of California-Berkeley ($78,142)

Other Majors at California State University-Northridge

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($106,780) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($100,724) Construction Engineering Technologies ($79,352) Public Administration ($76,049) Computer Engineering ($75,692) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($75,207) Mechanical Engineering ($71,359) Accounting and Related Services ($68,904)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Northridge's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 73/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. California State University-Northridge'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-Northridge rank so high for Civil Engineering?
The #35 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →