Civil Engineeringat University at Buffalo
Graduates earn $64,604/yr in their first year — about 7.0% below the national Civil Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $714K; scenarios range from $636K to $740K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University at Buffalo
At $64,604/yr, Civil Engineering graduates from University at Buffalo land near the $69,097 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
With a 16.5x 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.
The median debt load of $19,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
A #127 ranking among 220 Civil Engineering programs places University at Buffalo in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
The limited growth from $64,604 to $76,516 over five years suggests earnings in this field plateau relatively early in one's career.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University at Buffalo's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Civil Engineering
How University at Buffalo stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University at Buffalo
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University at Buffalo, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Civil Engineering at University at Buffalo
What does a 69/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Civil Engineering at University at Buffalo?
At 69/100, 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 University at Buffalo?
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.