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Civil Engineering at California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $71,342/yr (3% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)

ROI 29.0x earnings multiple (11.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #9 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	$930K	$883K	$761K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	30.6x	29.0x	25.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	11.9x	11.3x	9.8x
Probability of Field Employment	84%	75%	55%
DegreeOutlook Score	77	76	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)

$30,408

Out-of-state: $77,928 (11.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$42,048

-38% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,000

3.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$95,595

34% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $71,342 track close to the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 29.0x 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 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $18,000 in median debt against $71,342 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #9 out of 220 programs, California State University-Sacramento's Civil Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $71,342 to $95,595 shows 34% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About California State University-Sacramento

California State University-Sacramento has a 94% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 27,867 in Sacramento, CA. 49% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

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

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 California State University-Sacramento's Civil Engineering program score?

A score of 76/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. California State University-Sacramento'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.

Why does California State University-Sacramento rank so high for Civil Engineering?

The #9 ranking out of 220 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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