Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $72,502 track close to the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
The 18.8x 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 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
At $24,477 in median debt against $72,502 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
Ranked #43 out of 220 programs, Iowa State University's Civil Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
Earnings growth is modest: $72,502 to $86,261 over five years (19% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.