Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $67,764 track close to the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
With a 12.0x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 17% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Civil Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $18,750 in median debt against $67,764 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
A #139 ranking among 220 Civil Engineering programs places University of Michigan-Ann Arbor in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 31% earnings increase from $67,764 to $88,870 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.