Civil Engineering at Clarkson University

Potsdam, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
57 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
58
Optimistic
57
Base Case
55
Pessimistic
Earnings $70,136/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 3.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #206 of 220 Civil Engineering programs

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 $804K $771K $678K
Earnings Multiple 3.5x 3.3x 2.9x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 58 57 55

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$231,800
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$127,820
45% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$83,782
19% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Clarkson University's Civil Engineering program produces graduates earning $70,136/yr — within striking distance of the $69,097 national average for this field.

An earnings multiple of 3.3x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 16% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $27,000 in median debt clears quickly against $70,136 in annual earnings.

Ranked #206 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, Clarkson University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $83,782 are relatively flat compared to the $70,136 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Clarkson University

A 77% acceptance rate means Clarkson University is accessible to most applicants, a compact campus enrolling 2,449 students in Potsdam, NY. After financial aid, the average student pays $127,820 over four years — 45% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Clarkson 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

Other Majors at Clarkson University

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at Clarkson University?
This program scores 57/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Civil Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $678,059 in decade earnings vs $804,246 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →