Civil Engineeringat San Francisco State University
Graduates earn $68,256/yr in their first year — about 1.0% below the national Civil Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $948K; scenarios range from $809K to $1,003K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at SF State
At $68,256/yr, Civil Engineering graduates from San Francisco State University land near the $69,097 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 31.9x 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 19% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $17,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #11 of 220 nationally, this is a top-5% Civil Engineering program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Earnings grow from $68,256 to $100,807 over five years — a 48% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.
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 SF 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 SF State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at SF State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at SF State, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Civil Engineering at SF State
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at San Francisco State University?
This program scores 76/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Civil Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
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 $809,170 in decade earnings vs $1,003,087 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes San Francisco State University's Civil Engineering program stand out?
Ranked #11 of 220 programs nationally, San Francisco State University lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.