Civil Engineering at University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT · Public · Bachelor's Degree
73 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
73
Base Case
71
Pessimistic
Earnings $72,156/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 20.1x earnings multiple (6.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #60 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 $780K $749K $662K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.9x 20.1x 17.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.5x 6.3x 5.5x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 73 71

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$37,260
Out-of-state: $119,348 (6.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$52,688
-41% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,750
3.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$81,863
13% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $72,156/yr, roughly in line with the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 20.1x 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.

With first-year pay of $72,156 far exceeding the $18,750 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #60 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, University of Utah scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $81,863 are relatively flat compared to the $72,156 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About University of Utah

University of Utah accepts 87% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with 26,041 students enrolled in Salt Lake City, UT.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Utah →

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

Other Majors at University of Utah

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at University of Utah?
This program scores 73/100 — 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 $662,235 in decade earnings vs $780,245 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →