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Civil Engineering at University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
75 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
76
Optimistic
75
Base Case
72
Pessimistic
Earnings $78,142/yr (13% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 16.1x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #14 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 $1,010K $954K $814K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.0x 16.1x 13.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.5x 5.2x 4.5x
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)
$59,400
Out-of-state: $182,508 (5.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,916
-1% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,342
2.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$104,581
34% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $78,142/yr, edging above the $69,097 national average for Civil Engineering — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 16.1x 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 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $14,342 in median debt against $78,142 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

A #14 ranking out of 220 Civil Engineering programs nationally puts University of California-Berkeley in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $78,142 to $104,581 shows 34% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of California-Berkeley

University of California-Berkeley admits 12% of applicants — among the most selective institutions in the country, serving a student body of 33,073 in Berkeley, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Berkeley →

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) Lawrence Technological University ($77,836)

Compare Civil Engineering

University of California-Berkeley vs California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo →

Other Majors at University of California-Berkeley

Computer Science ($149,866) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($137,295) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($90,008) Operations Research ($88,685) Mechanical Engineering ($88,497) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($88,030) Statistics ($83,227) Chemical Engineering ($81,553)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Berkeley's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 75/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of California-Berkeley'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 →