Home Schools University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Civil Engineering
Engineering · Civil Engineering Rank #155 of 220

Civil Engineeringat The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Graduates earn $54,182/yr in their first year — about 22.0% below the national Civil Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $721K; scenarios range from $641K to $749K depending on AI disruption.

Edinburg, TX Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
67 SOLID
69
Optimistic
67
Pessimistic
Earnings
$54,182
1-year post-graduation
ROI
17.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$721K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
55% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's Civil Engineering graduates start at $54,182/yr, trailing the $69,097 national average by 22%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

With a 18.3x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 14% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Civil Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $11,000 in median debt clears quickly against $54,182 in annual earnings.

A #155 ranking among 220 Civil Engineering programs places The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 38% earnings increase from $54,182 to $74,618 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$641K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score67/100
Earnings Multiple16.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$721K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score67/100
Earnings Multiple18.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$749K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score69/100
Earnings Multiple19.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Civil Engineering graduates typically work

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.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Petroleum engineers
+1.3% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$141,280/yr
High
3
Engineers, all other
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 9,300 openings/yr
$117,750/yr
Moderate
4
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
5
Environmental engineers
+3.9% 10-yr growth · 3,000 openings/yr
$104,170/yr
High
6
Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers
+0.7% 10-yr growth · 400 openings/yr
$101,020/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Civil Engineering

How University of Texas Rio Grande Valley stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Loyola Marymount University
CA · Private nonprofit
53
DW Score
$88K
1-yr earn
2.7x
ROI
University of Southern California
CA · Private nonprofit
65
DW Score
$85K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
Top score
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
77
DW Score
$81K
1-yr earn
21.9x
ROI
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
61
DW Score
$80K
1-yr earn
2.8x
ROI
University of California-Berkeley
CA · Public
75
DW Score
$78K
1-yr earn
16.6x
ROI
Also at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Other top programs at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Civil Engineering at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

What does a 67/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Civil Engineering at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley?

At 67/100, the score looks reasonable — but Civil Engineering is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.

Should I worry about AI if I study Civil Engineering at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley?

The 49% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

Is The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley a good choice for Civil Engineering despite lower starting pay?

Starting salary is one data point. If The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.