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Civil Engineering at Texas Tech University

Lubbock, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
74 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
76
Optimistic
74
Base Case
72
Pessimistic
Earnings $74,655/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 17.6x earnings multiple (8.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #28 of 220 Civil Engineering programs Top 25%

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 $878K $837K $727K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.5x 17.6x 15.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.0x 8.6x 7.4x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 76 74 72

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$47,408
Out-of-state: $97,804 (8.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$80,284
-69% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,980
4.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$91,736
23% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $74,655/yr, edging above the $69,097 national average for Civil Engineering — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 17.6x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $25,980 in median debt against $74,655 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #28 out of 220 programs, Texas Tech University's Civil Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $74,655 to $91,736 shows 23% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University has a 71% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, one of the larger campuses at 32,446 students in Lubbock, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Texas Tech University →

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

Compare this program → View all 220 schools offering Civil Engineering →

Civil Engineering at Other Schools

Loyola Marymount University ($87,790) University of Southern California ($85,262) Santa Clara University ($84,883) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($80,673) Montana Technological University ($80,327) Cornell University ($80,261) Bucknell University ($80,231) University of California-Berkeley ($78,142)

Other Majors at Texas Tech University

Computer Engineering ($85,619) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($82,521) Petroleum Engineering ($80,460) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($79,544) Chemical Engineering ($77,586) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($76,708) Construction Engineering ($75,421) Mechanical Engineering ($73,268)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Texas Tech University's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 74/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Texas Tech 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.
Why does Texas Tech University rank so high for Civil Engineering?
The #28 ranking out of 220 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →