Civil Engineering at Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
73 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
74
Optimistic
73
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $74,841/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 15.6x earnings multiple (7.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #61 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 $852K $813K $709K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.4x 15.6x 13.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.3x 7.0x 6.1x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 74 73 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)
$51,988
Out-of-state: $116,292 (7.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$57,604
-11% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,780
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$89,281
19% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Washington State University's Civil Engineering graduates start at $74,841/yr — above the $69,097 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.6x 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.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $20,780 in median debt clears quickly against $74,841 in annual earnings.

At #61 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, Washington State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $89,281 are relatively flat compared to the $74,841 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Washington State University

A 85% acceptance rate means Washington State University is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 21,583 in Pullman, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Washington State University →

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 Washington State University?
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 $709,301 in decade earnings vs $851,626 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →