Home › The University of Texas at Austin › Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
75 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
76
Optimistic
75
Base Case
72
Pessimistic
Earnings $75,153/yr (9% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 18.2x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #18 of 220 Civil Engineering programs Top 10%

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 $892K $849K $736K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.1x 18.2x 15.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.2x 5.0x 4.3x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 76 75 72

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$46,712
Out-of-state: $171,112 (5.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$78,712
-69% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,875
3.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$93,173
24% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

The University of Texas at Austin's Civil Engineering graduates start at $75,153/yr — above the $69,097 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 18.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $19,875 in median debt clears quickly against $75,153 in annual earnings.

A #18 ranking out of 220 Civil Engineering programs nationally puts The University of Texas at Austin in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $75,153 to $93,173 shows 24% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About The University of Texas at Austin

Admission to The University of Texas at Austin is competitive, with 29% of applicants accepted, serving a student body of 42,100 in Austin, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas at Austin →

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) Santa Clara University ($84,883) 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)

Compare Civil Engineering

The University of Texas at Austin vs California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo → The University of Texas at Austin vs University of California-Berkeley →

Other Majors at The University of Texas at Austin

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($111,587) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($96,997) Business/Commerce, General ($94,041) Chemical Engineering ($87,365) Petroleum Engineering ($86,761) Management Information Systems and Services ($86,622) Mechanical Engineering ($82,227) Finance and Financial Management Services ($81,844)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does The University of Texas at Austin's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 75/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. The University of Texas at Austin's Civil Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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 →