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Civil Engineering at University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
73 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
73
Base Case
71
Pessimistic
Earnings $75,165/yr (9% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 14.7x earnings multiple (4.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #36 of 220 Civil Engineering programs Top 25%

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 $946K $898K $772K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.5x 14.7x 12.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.1x 4.9x 4.2x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 73 71

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$60,988
Out-of-state: $184,096 (4.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$61,152
-0% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,000
2.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$98,091
31% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of California-Davis's Civil Engineering graduates start at $75,165/yr — above the $69,097 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 14.7x 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 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $16,000 in median debt clears quickly against $75,165 in annual earnings.

Ranked #36 out of 220 programs, University of California-Davis's Civil Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $75,165 to $98,091 shows 31% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of California-Davis

University of California-Davis's 42% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, serving a student body of 31,777 in Davis, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Davis →

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 California-Davis

Computer Engineering ($96,418) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($84,343) Engineering, General ($82,956) Mechanical Engineering ($75,231) Materials Engineering ($74,110) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($71,633) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($68,419) Chemical Engineering ($68,337)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Davis's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 73/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of California-Davis's Civil Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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.
Why does University of California-Davis rank so high for Civil Engineering?
The #36 ranking out of 220 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →