Civil Engineering at University of South Florida

Tampa, FL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
74 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
74
Base Case
72
Pessimistic
Earnings $70,047/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 28.9x earnings multiple (10.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #21 of 220 Civil Engineering programs Top 10%

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 $771K $742K $656K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 30.1x 28.9x 25.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 11.1x 10.7x 9.5x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 74 72

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$25,640
Out-of-state: $69,296 (10.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$40,172
-57% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,625
3.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$80,617
15% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $70,047/yr, roughly in line with the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 28.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $70,047 far exceeding the $21,625 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #21 ranking out of 220 Civil Engineering programs nationally puts University of South Florida in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth is modest: $70,047 to $80,617 over five years (15% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About University of South Florida

A 41% admission rate makes University of South Florida accessible to a wide range of qualified students, one of the larger campuses at 36,299 students in Tampa, FL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of South Florida →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of South Florida's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 74/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of South Florida's Civil Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Civil Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Civil Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 49% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →