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Civil Engineering at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree
72 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
73
Optimistic
72
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $73,326/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 15.2x earnings multiple (5.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #68 of 220 Civil Engineering programs Top 50%

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 $820K $784K $688K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.9x 15.2x 13.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.1x 5.8x 5.1x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 73 72 70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,584
Out-of-state: $135,004 (5.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$81,328
-58% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$85,902
17% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Colorado State University-Fort Collins's Civil Engineering graduates start at $73,326/yr — above the $69,097 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.2x 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 16% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $25,000 in median debt clears quickly against $73,326 in annual earnings.

At #68 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, Colorado State University-Fort Collins scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $85,902 are relatively flat compared to the $73,326 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Colorado State University-Fort Collins

A 90% acceptance rate means Colorado State University-Fort Collins is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 25,148 in Fort Collins, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Colorado State University-Fort Collins →

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 Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($78,856) Construction Engineering Technologies ($78,423) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,038) Information Science/Studies ($67,827) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($66,109) Chemical Engineering ($62,468) Mechanical Engineering ($60,720) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($54,846)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?
This program scores 72/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Civil Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
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 $688,145 in decade earnings vs $819,542 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →