Civil Engineeringat South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Graduates earn $68,755/yr in their first year — right at the national average. Base-case 10-year earnings $712K; scenarios range from $635K to $739K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's Civil Engineering program produces graduates earning $68,755/yr — within striking distance of the $69,097 national average for this field.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.1x 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 14% gap from the optimistic case.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $27,000 in median debt clears quickly against $68,755 in annual earnings.
At #99 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $77,157 are relatively flat compared to the $68,755 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.
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 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology'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 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Other highest-scoring programs offered at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Civil Engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?
This program scores 71/100 — 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 $634,759 in decade earnings vs $738,576 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.