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Civil Engineering at University of New Mexico-Main Campus

Albuquerque, NM · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $54,248/yr (-21% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)

ROI 25.5x earnings multiple (7.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #108 of 220 Civil Engineering programs Top 50%

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	$868K	$827K	$720K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	26.7x	25.5x	22.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.2x	7.8x	6.8x
Probability of Field Employment	84%	75%	55%
DegreeOutlook Score	72	70	70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$32,460

Out-of-state: $105,800 (7.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$69,912

-115% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,721

4.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$84,508

56% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $54,248 place University of New Mexico-Main Campus below the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 25.5x 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 17% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $54,248 far exceeding the $18,721 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #108 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, University of New Mexico-Main Campus scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $84,508 show a 56% jump from the $54,248 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of New Mexico-Main Campus

University of New Mexico-Main Campus accepts 95% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 16,686 students in Albuquerque, NM.

See all programs and financial aid at University of New Mexico-Main Campus →

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 New Mexico-Main Campus?

This program scores 70/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Civil Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

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 $719,881 in decade earnings vs $867,667 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Civil Engineering from University of New Mexico-Main Campus?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

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