Civil Engineeringat Michigan State University
Graduates earn $72,048/yr in their first year — about 4.0% above the national Civil Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $799K; scenarios range from $699K to $835K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Michigan State University
Michigan State University's Civil Engineering program produces graduates earning $72,048/yr — within striking distance of the $69,097 national average for this field.
With a 12.5x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 16% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Civil Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $26,500 in median debt clears quickly against $72,048 in annual earnings.
A #122 ranking among 220 Civil Engineering programs places Michigan State University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 21% earnings increase from $72,048 to $87,138 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
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 Michigan State 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 Michigan State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Michigan State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Michigan State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Civil Engineering at Michigan State University
What does a 69/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Civil Engineering at Michigan State University?
At 69/100, 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 Michigan State 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.