Civil Engineering at Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS · Public · Bachelor's Degree
70 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
72
Optimistic
70
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $69,300/yr (0% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 16.3x earnings multiple (6.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #106 of 220 Civil Engineering programs Top 50%

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 $740K $713K $635K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.9x 16.3x 14.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.6x 6.4x 5.7x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 72 70 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,768
Out-of-state: $111,264 (6.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$71,532
-63% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
4.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$77,352
12% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Kansas State University's Civil Engineering program produces graduates earning $69,300/yr — within striking distance of the $69,097 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.3x 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 14% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $25,000 in median debt clears quickly against $69,300 in annual earnings.

At #106 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, Kansas State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $77,352 are relatively flat compared to the $69,300 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Kansas State University

A 79% acceptance rate means Kansas State University is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 14,835 in Manhattan, KS.

See all programs and financial aid at Kansas State 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at Kansas State University?
This program scores 70/100 — 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 $635,430 in decade earnings vs $739,594 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →