Civil Engineeringat Western Michigan University
Graduates earn $69,706/yr in their first year — about 1.0% above the national Civil Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $745K; scenarios range from $659K to $776K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Western Michigan University
First-year earnings of $69,706 track close to the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
With a 12.2x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 15% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Civil Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $24,750 in median debt against $69,706 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
A #140 ranking among 220 Civil Engineering programs places Western Michigan University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
The limited growth from $69,706 to $80,962 over five years suggests earnings in this field plateau relatively early in one's career.
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 Western Michigan University'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 Western Michigan University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Western Michigan University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Western Michigan University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Civil Engineering at Western Michigan University
What does a 68/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Civil Engineering at Western Michigan University?
At 68/100, the score looks reasonable — but Civil Engineering is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Civil Engineering at Western Michigan University?
The 49% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.