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Civil Engineering at George Mason University

Fairfax, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
74 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
74
Base Case
71
Pessimistic
Earnings $75,822/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 15.8x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #30 of 220 Civil Engineering programs Top 25%

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 $920K $874K $755K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.7x 15.8x 13.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.8x 5.5x 4.8x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 74 71

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$55,260
Out-of-state: $157,588 (5.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,148
-32% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,787
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$95,921
27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

George Mason University's Civil Engineering graduates start at $75,822/yr — above the $69,097 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 15.8x 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.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $20,787 in median debt clears quickly against $75,822 in annual earnings.

Ranked #30 out of 220 programs, George Mason University's Civil Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $75,822 to $95,921 shows 27% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About George Mason University

A 89% acceptance rate means George Mason University is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 27,083 in Fairfax, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at George Mason 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

Compare this program → View all 220 schools offering Civil Engineering →

Civil Engineering at Other Schools

Loyola Marymount University ($87,790) University of Southern California ($85,262) Santa Clara University ($84,883) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($80,673) Montana Technological University ($80,327) Cornell University ($80,261) Bucknell University ($80,231) University of California-Berkeley ($78,142)

Other Majors at George Mason University

Homeland Security ($90,956) Computer Engineering ($87,466) Systems Engineering ($84,942) Computer Science ($84,632) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($82,175) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($78,800) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($78,365) Mechanical Engineering ($73,570)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does George Mason University's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 74/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. George Mason University'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 George Mason University rank so high for Civil Engineering?
The #30 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 →