Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $69,757 track close to the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
With a 11.5x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 16% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Civil Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $26,961 in median debt against $69,757 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
A #138 ranking among 220 Civil Engineering programs places University of Massachusetts-Amherst in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 24% earnings increase from $69,757 to $86,717 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.