Civil Engineering at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, NJ · Public · Bachelor's Degree
69 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
70
Optimistic
69
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $70,609/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 12.0x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #126 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 $867K $827K $720K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.6x 12.0x 10.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.0x 5.7x 5.0x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 70 69 67

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$68,956
Out-of-state: $144,004 (5.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$94,076
-36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,880
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$89,751
27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $70,609/yr, roughly in line with the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.0x 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 17% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $70,609 far exceeding the $25,880 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #126 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, Rutgers University-New Brunswick falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $70,609 to $89,751 over five years — a 27% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Rutgers University-New Brunswick

A 65% admission rate makes Rutgers University-New Brunswick accessible to a wide range of qualified students, one of the larger campuses at 36,357 students in New Brunswick, NJ.

See all programs and financial aid at Rutgers University-New Brunswick →

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 Rutgers University-New Brunswick?
This program scores 69/100 — 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 $719,573 in decade earnings vs $867,206 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →