Program Analysis
Graduates earn $65,269/yr, roughly in line with the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.7x 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 $65,269 far exceeding the $19,313 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #135 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $78,165 are relatively flat compared to the $65,269 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.