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Civil Engineering at University of Alabama in Huntsville

Huntsville, AL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
59
Optimistic
58
Base Case
56
Pessimistic
Earnings $64,122/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 14.3x earnings multiple (6.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #199 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 $696K $674K $607K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.8x 14.3x 12.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.1x 6.8x 6.2x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 58 56

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$47,080
Out-of-state: $98,648 (6.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$79,520
-69% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,049
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $64,122/yr, roughly in line with the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 14.3x 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 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $64,122 far exceeding the $19,049 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #199 out of 220 programs, University of Alabama in Huntsville's financial outcomes for Civil Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About University of Alabama in Huntsville

University of Alabama in Huntsville accepts 74% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 6,650 students in Huntsville, AL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Alabama in Huntsville →

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 University of Alabama in Huntsville

Computer Engineering ($83,909) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($81,516) Industrial Engineering ($76,690) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($75,159) Mechanical Engineering ($73,984) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($70,383) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($63,036) Chemical Engineering ($60,528)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Alabama in Huntsville's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 58/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Alabama in Huntsville 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 →