Civil Engineering at The Catholic University of America

Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
63 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
65
Optimistic
63
Base Case
60
Pessimistic
Earnings $77,501/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 4.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #167 of 220 Civil Engineering programs

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 $997K $943K $805K
Earnings Multiple 4.5x 4.2x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 65 63 60

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$223,336
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$131,192
41% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,625
3.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$103,238
33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

The Catholic University of America's Civil Engineering graduates start at $77,501/yr — above the $69,097 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 4.2x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $24,625 in median debt clears quickly against $77,501 in annual earnings.

At #167 out of 220 programs, The Catholic University of America's financial outcomes for Civil Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $77,501 to $103,238 shows 33% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About The Catholic University of America

A 84% acceptance rate means The Catholic University of America is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 3,063 students in Washington, DC. After financial aid, the average student pays $131,192 over four years — 41% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at The Catholic University of America →

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

Other Majors at The Catholic University of America

Frequently Asked Questions

How does The Catholic University of America's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 63/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but The Catholic University of America trails the majority of Civil Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →