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Civil Engineering at University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree
69 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
70
Optimistic
69
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $73,033/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 11.8x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #120 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 $811K $777K $682K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.3x 11.8x 10.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.8x 4.6x 4.1x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 70 69 67

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$65,720
Out-of-state: $167,772 (4.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$85,920
-31% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,318
3.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$85,000
16% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $73,033/yr, edging above the $69,097 national average for Civil Engineering — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Civil Engineering programs nationally.

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 16% gap from the optimistic case.

At $19,318 in median debt against $73,033 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #120 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, University of Colorado Boulder falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $85,000 are relatively flat compared to the $73,033 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About University of Colorado Boulder

University of Colorado Boulder has a 83% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 31,578 students enrolled in Boulder, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Colorado Boulder →

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 Colorado Boulder

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($88,957) Computer Engineering ($86,211) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($81,835) Computer Science ($77,385) Architectural Engineering ($72,567) Biochemical Engineering ($70,668) Chemical Engineering ($70,359) Mechanical Engineering ($66,089)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at University of Colorado Boulder?
This program scores 69/100 — 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 $682,368 in decade earnings vs $810,781 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →