Program Analysis
Graduates earn $65,478/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 14.2x 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 18% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $65,478 far exceeding the $16,400 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #103 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, University of California-San Diego scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Earnings grow from $65,478 to $91,984 over five years — a 40% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.