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Civil Engineering at Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
65 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
66
Optimistic
65
Base Case
62
Pessimistic
Earnings $84,883/yr (23% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 4.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #159 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 $1,070K $1,008K $853K
Earnings Multiple 4.5x 4.3x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 66 65 62

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$236,964
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$203,836
14% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$111,831
32% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Santa Clara University's Civil Engineering graduates start at $84,883/yr — above the $69,097 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 4.3x 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 20% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #159 out of 220 programs, Santa Clara 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 $84,883 to $111,831 shows 32% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Santa Clara University

Santa Clara University's 44% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, serving 6,235 students in Santa Clara, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at Santa Clara 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) 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) Lawrence Technological University ($77,836)

Other Majors at Santa Clara University

Computer Engineering ($103,804) Management Information Systems and Services ($93,042) Mathematics and Computer Science ($91,851) Mechanical Engineering ($81,865) Finance and Financial Management Services ($79,929) Accounting and Related Services ($78,417) Economics ($76,606) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($73,710)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Santa Clara University's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 65/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Santa Clara 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 →