Civil Engineering at University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS · Public · Bachelor's Degree
72 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
74
Optimistic
72
Base Case
71
Pessimistic
Earnings $68,486/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 17.7x earnings multiple (7.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #73 of 220 Civil Engineering programs Top 50%

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 $868K $828K $720K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.6x 17.7x 15.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.4x 7.0x 6.1x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 74 72 71

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$46,800
Out-of-state: $117,648 (7.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$69,460
-48% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$89,289
30% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $68,486/yr, roughly in line with the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 17.7x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $68,486 far exceeding the $20,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #73 out of 220 programs, University of Kansas's Civil Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $68,486 to $89,289 shows 30% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Kansas

University of Kansas accepts 88% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 19,857 in Lawrence, KS.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Kansas →

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

How does University of Kansas's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 72/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Kansas'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 →