Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $72,729 at North Dakota State University-Main Campus come in 5% above the national median of $69,097 for Civil Engineering programs.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.1x 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 15% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $72,729 far exceeding the $22,250 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #82 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, North Dakota State University-Main Campus scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $81,230 are relatively flat compared to the $72,729 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.