Civil Engineering at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
73 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
73
Base Case
71
Pessimistic
Earnings $67,934/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 25.6x earnings multiple (8.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #47 of 220 Civil Engineering programs Top 25%

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 $767K $738K $654K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 26.6x 25.6x 22.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.8x 8.4x 7.5x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 73 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)
$28,856
Out-of-state: $87,504 (8.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$58,980
-104% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,000
3.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$79,801
17% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $67,934 track close to the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 25.6x 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 15% gap from the optimistic case.

At $22,000 in median debt against $67,934 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #47 of 220 nationally, this is a top-5% Civil Engineering program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $79,801 are relatively flat compared to the $67,934 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About University of North Carolina at Charlotte

University of North Carolina at Charlotte has a 80% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 23,567 students enrolled in Charlotte, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina at Charlotte →

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

Civil Engineering at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at University of North Carolina at Charlotte?
This program scores 73/100 — 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 $653,714 in decade earnings vs $767,325 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Civil Engineering program stand out?
Ranked #47 of 220 programs nationally, University of North Carolina at Charlotte lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →