Home › California State University-Los Angeles › Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering at California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $73,178/yr (6% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)

ROI 33.7x earnings multiple (12.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #4 of 220 Civil Engineering programs Top 5%

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	$970K	$919K	$788K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	35.6x	33.7x	28.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	13.0x	12.3x	10.5x
Probability of Field Employment	84%	75%	55%
DegreeOutlook Score	78	77	74

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$27,252

Out-of-state: $74,792 (12.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$16,452

40% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$16,500

2.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$99,644

36% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $73,178/yr, edging above the $69,097 national average for Civil Engineering — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 33.7x 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 19% gap from the optimistic case.

At $16,500 in median debt against $73,178 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #4 of 220 nationally, this is a top-5% Civil Engineering program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $73,178 to $99,644 over five years — a 36% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About California State University-Los Angeles

California State University-Los Angeles has a 92% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 21,478 students enrolled in Los Angeles, CA. With 66% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $16,452 over four years — 40% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Los Angeles →

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

Compare Civil Engineering

Other Majors at California State University-Los Angeles

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at California State University-Los Angeles?

This program scores 77/100 — 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 $787,502 in decade earnings vs $970,225 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes California State University-Los Angeles's Civil Engineering program stand out?

Ranked #4 of 220 programs nationally, California State University-Los Angeles lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →