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Civil Engineering at Louisiana Tech University

Ruston, LA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
59 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
60
Optimistic
59
Base Case
57
Pessimistic
Earnings $61,868/yr (-10% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 16.2x earnings multiple (9.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #192 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 $675K $655K $593K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.7x 16.2x 14.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.0x 9.7x 8.8x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 59 57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$40,500
Out-of-state: $67,464 (9.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$48,836
-21% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,676
4.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Louisiana Tech University's Civil Engineering program produces graduates earning $61,868/yr — within striking distance of the $69,097 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.2x 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 12% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $24,676 in median debt clears quickly against $61,868 in annual earnings.

Ranked #192 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, Louisiana Tech University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Louisiana Tech University

A 73% acceptance rate means Louisiana Tech University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 7,819 students in Ruston, LA.

See all programs and financial aid at Louisiana Tech 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 Louisiana Tech University

Chemical Engineering ($79,157) Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($74,863) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($71,994) Mechanical Engineering ($70,372) Computer Science ($68,023) Industrial Engineering ($65,739) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($62,384) Construction Engineering Technologies ($58,151)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at Louisiana Tech University?
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 $592,558 in decade earnings vs $674,575 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →