Civil Engineeringat University of California-Irvine
Graduates earn $73,835/yr in their first year — about 7.0% above the national Civil Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $867K; scenarios range from $749K to $912K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC Irvine
First-year earnings of $73,835 at University of California-Irvine come in 7% above the national median of $69,097 for Civil Engineering programs.
With a 15.2x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 18% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Civil Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $73,835 far exceeding the $17,816 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
University of California-Irvine ranks #37 among 220 Civil Engineering programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
A 28% earnings increase from $73,835 to $94,661 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
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 UC Irvine'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 UC Irvine stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UC Irvine
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC Irvine, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Civil Engineering at UC Irvine
What does a 73/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Civil Engineering at University of California-Irvine?
At 73/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Civil Engineering at University of California-Irvine?
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 University of California-Irvine one of the best schools for Civil Engineering?
Among 220 Civil Engineering programs, University of California-Irvine's #37 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.