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Civil Engineering at CUNY City College

New York, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
74 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
76
Optimistic
74
Base Case
73
Pessimistic
Earnings $67,194/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 28.7x earnings multiple (13.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #25 of 220 Civil Engineering programs Top 25%

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 $884K $842K $731K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 30.1x 28.7x 24.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 14.5x 13.8x 11.9x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 76 74 73

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,360
Out-of-state: $61,160 (13.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$13,944
53% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,529
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$90,337
34% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $67,194 track close to the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 28.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $19,529 in median debt against $67,194 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #25 out of 220 programs, CUNY City College's Civil Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $67,194 to $90,337 shows 34% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About CUNY City College

With a 58% acceptance rate, CUNY City College is moderately selective, enrolling 11,934 students in New York, NY. With 60% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $13,944 over four years — 53% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at CUNY City College →

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 CUNY City College

Computer Science ($83,258) Computer Engineering ($78,326) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,172) Chemical Engineering ($67,450) Mechanical Engineering ($65,905) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($62,945) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($56,711) Physics ($48,908)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does CUNY City College's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 74/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. CUNY City College'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 CUNY City College rank so high for Civil Engineering?
The #25 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.
How affordable is Civil Engineering at CUNY City College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $29,360, but the average net cost is $13,944 — a 53% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →