Civil Engineering at Northeastern University

Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
60 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
62
Optimistic
60
Base Case
57
Pessimistic
Earnings $76,362/yr (11% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 3.4x earnings multiple
Ranked #183 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 $902K $858K $743K
Earnings Multiple 3.6x 3.4x 2.9x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 62 60 57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$252,564
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$128,464
49% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,750
3.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$94,368
24% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $76,362 per year, Civil Engineering graduates from Northeastern University earn slightly above the $69,097 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

An earnings multiple of 3.4x 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 18% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $24,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #183 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, Northeastern University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $76,362 to $94,368 over five years — a 24% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Northeastern University

With just 6% of applicants admitted, Northeastern University ranks among the nation's most selective schools, with a mid-sized student body of 15,719 in Boston, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $128,464 — 49% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Northeastern 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

Other Majors at Northeastern University

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at Northeastern University?
This program scores 60/100 — 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 $742,619 in decade earnings vs $902,155 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →