Civil Engineering at Colorado School of Mines

Golden, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree
67 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
68
Optimistic
67
Base Case
65
Pessimistic
Earnings $70,301/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 9.9x earnings multiple (4.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #146 of 220 Civil Engineering programs

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 $883K $841K $730K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.4x 9.9x 8.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.0x 4.7x 4.1x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 68 67 65

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$84,744
Out-of-state: $177,504 (4.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$116,960
-38% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,402
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$91,060
30% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Colorado School of Mines's Civil Engineering program produces graduates earning $70,301/yr — within striking distance of the $69,097 national average for this field.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.9x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 — $23,402 in median debt clears quickly against $70,301 in annual earnings.

Ranked #146 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, Colorado School of Mines falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $70,301 to $91,060 over five years — a 30% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Colorado School of Mines

Colorado School of Mines's 60% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, enrolling 5,801 students in Golden, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Colorado School of Mines →

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

Civil Engineering at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at Colorado School of Mines?
This program scores 67/100 — 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 $729,673 in decade earnings vs $882,522 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →