Civil Engineering at Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
70 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
71
Optimistic
70
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $64,246/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 16.1x earnings multiple (6.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #118 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 $825K $789K $692K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.8x 16.1x 14.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.3x 6.0x 5.3x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 71 70 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$49,048
Out-of-state: $130,648 (6.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$56,680
-16% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,406
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$84,251
31% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $64,246 track close to the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Civil Engineering programs nationally.

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 16% gap from the optimistic case.

At $23,406 in median debt against $64,246 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #118 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, Old Dominion University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $64,246 to $84,251 over five years — a 31% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University has a 91% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 17,521 in Norfolk, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Old Dominion 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

Civil Engineering at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at Old Dominion University?
This program scores 70/100 — 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 $691,630 in decade earnings vs $824,827 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →