Civil Engineering at University of Minnesota-Duluth

Duluth, MN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
68 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
69
Optimistic
68
Base Case
66
Pessimistic
Earnings $65,175/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 13.1x earnings multiple (9.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #141 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 $781K $750K $663K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.6x 13.1x 11.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.9x 9.5x 8.4x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 69 68 66

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$57,272
Out-of-state: $79,048 (9.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,856
-29% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,379
4.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$80,494
24% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $65,175 track close to the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.1x 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 15% gap from the optimistic case.

At $23,379 in median debt against $65,175 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #141 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, University of Minnesota-Duluth falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $65,175 to $80,494 over five years — a 24% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Minnesota-Duluth

University of Minnesota-Duluth has a 82% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 7,475 students in Duluth, MN.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Minnesota-Duluth →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at University of Minnesota-Duluth?
This program scores 68/100 — 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 $662,746 in decade earnings vs $781,023 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →