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Civil Engineering at University of Dayton

Dayton, OH · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $71,411/yr (3% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)

ROI 4.4x earnings multiple

Ranked #181 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	$876K	$835K	$726K
Earnings Multiple	4.6x	4.4x	3.8x
Probability of Field Employment	84%	75%	55%
DegreeOutlook Score	62	61	59

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$190,400

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$124,944

34% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,500

4.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$90,774

27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $71,411/yr, roughly in line with the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

An earnings multiple of 4.4x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 17% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $71,411 far exceeding the $26,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #181 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, University of Dayton falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $71,411 to $90,774 over five years — a 27% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Dayton

A 62% admission rate makes University of Dayton accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a mid-sized student body of 8,099 in Dayton, OH. After financial aid, the average student pays $124,944 over four years — 34% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Dayton →

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

Civil Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Dayton

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at University of Dayton?

This program scores 61/100 — 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 $725,503 in decade earnings vs $876,197 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →