Civil Engineering at Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, AZ · Public · Bachelor's Degree
70 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
72
Optimistic
70
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $66,589/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 15.6x earnings multiple (6.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #102 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 $827K $791K $693K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.3x 15.6x 13.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.2x 6.8x 6.0x
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)
$50,608
Out-of-state: $115,600 (6.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,688
-18% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,188
4.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$85,036
28% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $66,589/yr, Civil Engineering graduates from Northern Arizona University land near the $69,097 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.6x 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 16% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $25,188 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #102 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, Northern Arizona University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $66,589 to $85,036 over five years — a 28% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Northern Arizona University

With 91% of applicants admitted, Northern Arizona University prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 23,041 students in Flagstaff, AZ.

See all programs and financial aid at Northern Arizona 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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at Northern Arizona 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 $692,839 in decade earnings vs $826,659 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →