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Civil Engineering at University of Houston

Houston, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $74,822/yr (8% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)

ROI 21.4x earnings multiple (9.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #17 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	$872K	$832K	$723K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	22.5x	21.4x	18.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	9.8x	9.4x	8.1x
Probability of Field Employment	84%	75%	55%
DegreeOutlook Score	77	75	73

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,844

Out-of-state: $88,764 (9.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$55,412

-43% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,660

3.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$91,240

22% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $74,822 at University of Houston come in 8% above the national median of $69,097 for Civil Engineering programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 21.4x 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 17% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $74,822 far exceeding the $18,660 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #17 of 220 programs, University of Houston's Civil Engineering program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $74,822 to $91,240 over five years — a 22% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Houston

A 70% admission rate makes University of Houston accessible to a wide range of qualified students, serving a student body of 37,175 in Houston, TX. With 41% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Houston →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at University of Houston?

This program scores 75/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Civil Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace Civil Engineering careers?

With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $723,016 in decade earnings vs $872,425 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →