Civil Engineeringat South Dakota State University
Graduates earn $69,129/yr in their first year — right at the national average. Base-case 10-year earnings $716K; scenarios range from $638K to $743K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at South Dakota State University
Graduates earn $69,129/yr, roughly in line with the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
The 19.3x 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 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $69,129 far exceeding the $23,250 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #86 out of 220 programs, South Dakota State University's Civil Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth is modest: $69,129 to $77,672 over five years (12% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.
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 State University'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 State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at South Dakota State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at South Dakota State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Civil Engineering at South Dakota State University
How does South Dakota State University's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 72/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. South Dakota 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.