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Engineering Technology · Civil Engineering Technology Rank #7 of 12

Civil Engineering Technologyat Metropolitan State University of Denver

Graduates earn $54,677/yr in their first year — about 10.0% below the national Civil Engineering Technology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $638K; scenarios range from $569K to $659K depending on AI disruption.

Denver, CO Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
58 SOLID
59
Optimistic
53
Pessimistic
Earnings
$54,677
1-year post-graduation
ROI
16.3x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$638K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Metropolitan State University of Denver

This program at MSU Denver positions you for crucial support roles within Colorado's booming infrastructure and construction sectors. As a large public institution with high accessibility, MSU Denver focuses on practical, hands-on training, preparing you specifically for technician positions rather than licensed engineering roles. This means you'll likely find opportunities with state agencies like CDOT, local municipalities, and numerous private construction and engineering firms across the Front Range, assisting with everything from drafting and surveying to quality control and project management support.

The high AI risk for this field reflects the increasing automation of repetitive tasks like CAD design, data analysis, and initial site assessments. To thrive, you'll need to master advanced software and cultivate problem-solving skills that leverage, rather than compete with, emerging technologies. Focus on developing strong critical thinking and communication abilities to translate technical data into actionable insights, making yourself indispensable as the industry evolves.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$569K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score53/100
Earnings Multiple13.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$638K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score58/100
Earnings Multiple14.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$659K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score59/100
Earnings Multiple15.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Metropolitan State University of Denver's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Civil Engineering Technology graduates typically work

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.

1
Civil engineering technologists and technicians
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 5,500 openings/yr
$64,200/yr
High
2
Traffic technicians
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 800 openings/yr
$58,480/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Civil Engineering Technology

How Metropolitan State University of Denver stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Rochester Institute of Technology
NY · Private nonprofit
46
DW Score
$73K
1-yr earn
2.4x
ROI
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
MD · Public
53
DW Score
$69K
1-yr earn
18.3x
ROI
Top score
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
NC · Public
63
DW Score
$63K
1-yr earn
26.2x
ROI
Same state (CO)
Colorado State University Pueblo
CO · Public
60
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
18.0x
ROI
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
NY · Public
63
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
23.5x
ROI
Also at Metropolitan State University of Denver

Other top programs at Metropolitan State University of Denver

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Metropolitan State University of Denver, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Civil Engineering Technology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Civil Engineering Technology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Civil Engineering Technology at Metropolitan State University of Denver

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering Technology at Metropolitan State University of Denver?

This program scores 58/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Civil Engineering Technology programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Will AI replace Civil Engineering Technology careers?

With 53% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $568,815 in decade earnings vs $658,678 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.