Home › Lafayette College › Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering at Lafayette College

Easton, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
60
Optimistic
58
Base Case
56
Pessimistic
Earnings $70,391/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 3.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #204 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 $879K $838K $728K
Earnings Multiple 3.5x 3.3x 2.9x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 58 56

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$250,296
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$129,984
48% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,000
2.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$90,802
29% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Lafayette College's Civil Engineering program produces graduates earning $70,391/yr — within striking distance of the $69,097 national average for this field.

An earnings multiple of 3.3x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 — $16,000 in median debt clears quickly against $70,391 in annual earnings.

Ranked #204 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, Lafayette College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $70,391 to $90,802 over five years — a 29% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Lafayette College

Admission to Lafayette College is competitive, with 31% of applicants accepted, with a smaller student body of 2,746 in Easton, PA. The average net cost of $129,984 over four years represents a 48% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Lafayette 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 Lafayette College

Chemical Engineering ($79,602) Engineering, General ($76,507) Mechanical Engineering ($72,481) Economics ($68,164) International Relations and National Security Studies ($58,433) Political Science and Government ($48,112) Sociology and Anthropology ($43,321) Biology, General ($41,885)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at Lafayette College?
This program scores 58/100 — 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 $727,615 in decade earnings vs $879,399 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →