Civil Engineering at University of Louisville

Louisville, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
71 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
72
Optimistic
71
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $66,064/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 16.2x earnings multiple (7.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #95 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 $874K $833K $724K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.0x 16.2x 14.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.5x 7.1x 6.2x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 72 71 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,312
Out-of-state: $116,696 (7.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$70,536
-37% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
4.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$89,150
35% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $66,064/yr, roughly in line with the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 16.2x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $66,064 far exceeding the $25,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #95 out of 220 programs, University of Louisville's Civil Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $66,064 to $89,150 shows 35% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Louisville

University of Louisville accepts 81% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 14,187 in Louisville, KY.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Louisville →

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 Louisville's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Louisville'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 →