Civil Engineeringat San Diego State University
Graduates earn $73,584/yr in their first year — about 6.0% above the national Civil Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $884K; scenarios range from $762K to $931K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at San Diego State
San Diego State's Civil Engineering program places you squarely in a vibrant regional market with continuous demand for skilled engineers. The strong performance of graduates isn't just about the quality of education; it's heavily influenced by San Diego's ongoing urban development, extensive infrastructure projects, and a significant presence of public works agencies and large construction firms. You'll find opportunities working on everything from complex transportation systems and water management to new commercial and residential developments. While some design tasks may see increased automation, the critical need for human judgment in project management, on-site supervision, and client relations ensures your expertise remains essential. To capitalize fully, actively engage in internships with local engineering consultancies or public utilities during your studies; these connections are key to a successful career launch.
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 San Diego State'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 San Diego State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at San Diego State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at San Diego State, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Civil Engineering at San Diego State
What does a 76/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Civil Engineering at San Diego State University?
At 76/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Civil Engineering at San Diego 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.
Is San Diego State University one of the best schools for Civil Engineering?
Among 220 Civil Engineering programs, San Diego State University's #10 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.