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Civil Engineering at Trine University

Angola, IN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
59 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
60
Optimistic
59
Base Case
57
Pessimistic
Earnings $65,700/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 5.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #191 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 $749K $721K $641K
Earnings Multiple 5.3x 5.1x 4.5x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 59 57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$142,400
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$102,320
28% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
4.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$77,554
18% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Trine University's Civil Engineering program produces graduates earning $65,700/yr — within striking distance of the $69,097 national average for this field.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 5.1x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 14% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $27,000 in median debt clears quickly against $65,700 in annual earnings.

Ranked #191 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, Trine University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $77,554 are relatively flat compared to the $65,700 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Trine University

A 85% acceptance rate means Trine University is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 2,344 students in Angola, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Trine 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 Trine University

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($73,923) Chemical Engineering ($72,875) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($67,702) Computer Engineering ($67,500) Mechanical Engineering ($66,816) Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($65,013) Marketing ($51,244) Accounting and Related Services ($45,913)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at Trine University?
This program scores 59/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Civil Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $641,383 in decade earnings vs $748,624 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →