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Civil Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
59 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
60
Optimistic
59
Base Case
56
Pessimistic
Earnings $71,760/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 3.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #189 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 $810K $776K $682K
Earnings Multiple 3.9x 3.7x 3.3x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 59 56

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$207,052
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$77,412
63% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,000
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$84,660
18% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Illinois Institute of Technology's Civil Engineering program produces graduates earning $71,760/yr — within striking distance of the $69,097 national average for this field.

An earnings multiple of 3.7x 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 — $24,000 in median debt clears quickly against $71,760 in annual earnings.

Ranked #189 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, Illinois Institute of Technology falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $84,660 are relatively flat compared to the $71,760 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Illinois Institute of Technology

Illinois Institute of Technology's 55% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with a smaller student body of 2,812 in Chicago, IL. The average net cost of $77,412 over four years represents a 63% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Illinois Institute of Technology →

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 Illinois Institute of Technology

Computer Science ($86,005) Computer Engineering ($81,252) Engineering-Related Fields ($72,164) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($69,966) Mechanical Engineering ($65,386) Chemical Engineering ($64,526) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($63,169) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($61,313)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology?
This program scores 59/100 — 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 $681,788 in decade earnings vs $809,902 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Illinois Institute of Technology a hidden gem for Civil Engineering?
After financial aid, the average student pays $77,412 over four years — 63% below the $207,052 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →