Civil Engineeringat Cornell University
Graduates earn $80,261/yr in their first year — about 16.0% above the national Civil Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $906K; scenarios range from $778K to $956K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Cornell University
Cornell's elite engineering program, known for its rigorous curriculum and extensive alumni network, consistently places graduates into high-impact roles. You'll find strong recruitment pipelines to major infrastructure development firms, top-tier consulting agencies, and government bodies overseeing large-scale projects, particularly across the East Coast. This strong demand and the quality of your education allow you to command a premium early in your career, with many quickly advancing into project management and leadership positions. While some routine design tasks in civil engineering are increasingly automated, your Cornell education emphasizes the critical thinking, complex problem-solving, and project leadership skills that remain uniquely human and indispensable. Focus on securing multiple internships early on to leverage these recruitment pipelines and explore diverse specializations within the field.
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 Cornell University'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 Cornell University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Cornell University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cornell University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Civil Engineering at Cornell University
What does a 61/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Civil Engineering at Cornell University?
At 61/100, the score looks reasonable — but Civil Engineering is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Civil Engineering at Cornell University?
The 49% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
What do students actually pay for Civil Engineering at Cornell University?
The 51% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $264,056. At a net cost of $129,348, the earnings multiple improves substantially.