Civil Engineering at Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
67 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
69
Optimistic
67
Base Case
65
Pessimistic
Earnings $70,928/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 10.6x earnings multiple (4.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #149 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 $818K $783K $687K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.1x 10.6x 9.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.9x 4.7x 4.2x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 69 67 65

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$73,568
Out-of-state: $165,360 (4.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$62,916
14% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,625
4.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$85,298
20% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $70,928 track close to the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 10.6x 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 $24,625 in median debt against $70,928 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #149 out of 220 programs, Michigan Technological University's financial outcomes for Civil Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $70,928 to $85,298 shows 20% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Michigan Technological University

Michigan Technological University has a 88% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 5,829 students in Houghton, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Michigan Technological University →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Michigan Technological University's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 67/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Michigan Technological University trails the majority of Civil Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →