Home › University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus › Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Pittsburgh, PA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $66,943/yr (-3% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)

ROI 9.6x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #162 of 220 Civil Engineering programs

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	$867K	$827K	$719K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.1x	9.6x	8.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.4x	5.2x	4.5x
Probability of Field Employment	84%	75%	55%
DegreeOutlook Score	67	65	64

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$86,096

Out-of-state: $159,560 (5.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$120,296

-40% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,000

4.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$88,756

33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $66,943/yr, roughly in line with the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.6x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 $66,943 far exceeding the $27,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #162 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $66,943 to $88,756 over five years — a 33% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

A 50% admission rate makes University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus accessible to a wide range of qualified students, one of the larger campuses at 20,189 students in Pittsburgh, PA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus →

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

Other Majors at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus?

This program scores 65/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Civil Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

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 $719,447 in decade earnings vs $867,014 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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