Civil Engineeringat University of New Mexico-Main Campus
Graduates earn $54,248/yr in their first year — about 21.0% below the national Civil Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $827K; scenarios range from $720K to $868K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of New Mexico
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.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of New Mexico's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Civil Engineering
How University of New Mexico stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of New Mexico
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of New Mexico, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Civil Engineering at University of New Mexico
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.