Civil Engineering at Marquette University

Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
60 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
62
Optimistic
60
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings $68,386/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 4.4x earnings multiple
Ranked #187 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 $897K $854K $739K
Earnings Multiple 4.6x 4.4x 3.8x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 62 60 58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$194,800
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$116,948
40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,750
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$91,837
34% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $68,386/yr, Civil Engineering graduates from Marquette University land near the $69,097 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 4.4x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $26,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #187 out of 220 programs, Marquette University's financial outcomes for Civil Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $68,386 to $91,837 shows 34% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Marquette University

With 87% of applicants admitted, Marquette University prioritizes broad access, enrolling 7,238 students in Milwaukee, WI. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $116,948 — 40% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Marquette 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Marquette University's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 60/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Marquette University trails the majority of Civil Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →