Home Schools Clemson University Civil Engineering
Engineering · Civil Engineering Rank #113 of 220

Civil Engineeringat Clemson University

Graduates earn $69,386/yr in their first year — right at the national average. Base-case 10-year earnings $822K; scenarios range from $716K to $862K depending on AI disruption.

Clemson, SC Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
70 STRONG
71
Optimistic
68
Pessimistic
Earnings
$69,386
1-year post-graduation
ROI
13.3x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$822K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
55% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Clemson University

Clemson University's Civil Engineering program produces graduates earning $69,386/yr — within striking distance of the $69,097 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.2x 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 17% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $21,912 in median debt clears quickly against $69,386 in annual earnings.

Ranked #113 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, Clemson University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $69,386 to $88,941 over five years — a 28% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$716K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score68/100
Earnings Multiple11.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$822K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score70/100
Earnings Multiple13.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$862K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score71/100
Earnings Multiple13.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Clemson University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Civil Engineering graduates typically work

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.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Petroleum engineers
+1.3% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$141,280/yr
High
3
Engineers, all other
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 9,300 openings/yr
$117,750/yr
Moderate
4
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
5
Environmental engineers
+3.9% 10-yr growth · 3,000 openings/yr
$104,170/yr
High
6
Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers
+0.7% 10-yr growth · 400 openings/yr
$101,020/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Civil Engineering

How Clemson University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Loyola Marymount University
CA · Private nonprofit
53
DW Score
$88K
1-yr earn
2.7x
ROI
University of Southern California
CA · Private nonprofit
65
DW Score
$85K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
Top score
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
77
DW Score
$81K
1-yr earn
21.9x
ROI
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
61
DW Score
$80K
1-yr earn
2.8x
ROI
University of California-Berkeley
CA · Public
75
DW Score
$78K
1-yr earn
16.6x
ROI
Also at Clemson University

Other top programs at Clemson University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Clemson University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Civil Engineering at Clemson University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at Clemson University?

This program scores 70/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Civil Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

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 $715,967 in decade earnings vs $861,736 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.