Civil Engineering at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

Edwardsville, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
70 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
71
Optimistic
70
Base Case
68
Pessimistic
Earnings $67,260/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 15.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #105 of 220 Civil Engineering programs Top 50%

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 $811K $777K $682K
Earnings Multiple 15.7x 15.0x 13.2x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 71 70 68

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$51,688
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$54,784
-6% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,264
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$83,754
25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $67,260/yr, Civil Engineering graduates from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville land near the $69,097 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.0x 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 16% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $20,264 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #105 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $67,260 to $83,754 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

With 97% of applicants admitted, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville prioritizes broad access, enrolling 8,836 students in Edwardsville, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville →

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 Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville?
This program scores 70/100 — 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 $682,426 in decade earnings vs $810,870 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →