Civil Engineeringat California State University-Sacramento
Graduates earn $71,342/yr in their first year — about 3.0% above the national Civil Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $883K; scenarios range from $761K to $930K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at CSU Sacramento
Cal State Sacramento's Civil Engineering program consistently stands out due to its deep integration with California's robust infrastructure and development needs. Located in the state capital, the program benefits from strong ties to major state agencies like Caltrans and the Department of Water Resources, alongside numerous regional municipalities and private consulting firms. This creates a direct pipeline for graduates into local and statewide projects, from transportation networks to water systems, which underpins the program's strong career outcomes.
While AI risk is a growing consideration, civil engineering roles often evolve into project management, site supervision, and client relations, demanding human judgment and leadership that complement technological advancements. Your practical, hands-on experience in program design and construction management will be highly valued. To maximize your prospects, prioritize internships within the Sacramento region; these connections often lead directly to full-time employment and accelerate your professional growth within the regional market.
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 Sacramento'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 Sacramento stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at CSU Sacramento
Other highest-scoring programs offered at CSU Sacramento, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Civil Engineering at CSU Sacramento
How does California State University-Sacramento's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 76/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. California State University-Sacramento'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-Sacramento rank so high for Civil Engineering?
The #9 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.