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Civil Engineering at Portland State University

Portland, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
72 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
74
Optimistic
72
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $67,509/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 18.1x earnings multiple (6.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #84 of 220 Civil Engineering programs Top 50%

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 $852K $814K $710K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.0x 18.1x 15.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.1x 6.7x 5.9x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 74 72 70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,952
Out-of-state: $120,552 (6.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,728
-15% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,470
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$87,595
30% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Portland State University's Civil Engineering program produces graduates earning $67,509/yr — within striking distance of the $69,097 national average for this field.

The 18.1x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $22,470 in median debt clears quickly against $67,509 in annual earnings.

Ranked #84 out of 220 programs, Portland State University's Civil Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $67,509 to $87,595 shows 30% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Portland State University

A 91% acceptance rate means Portland State University is accessible to most applicants, serving 13,619 students in Portland, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Portland State 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

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 Portland State University

Computer Engineering ($87,259) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($82,853) Computer Science ($78,669) Mechanical Engineering ($73,079) Physics ($62,749) Accounting and Related Services ($58,069) Finance and Financial Management Services ($52,859) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($51,358)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Portland State University's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 72/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Portland State University's Civil Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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 →