Civil Engineering at University of Rhode Island

Kingston, RI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
67 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
69
Optimistic
67
Base Case
65
Pessimistic
Earnings $68,728/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 11.5x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #154 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 $787K $755K $667K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.0x 11.5x 10.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.5x 5.3x 4.7x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 69 67 65

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$65,632
Out-of-state: $143,216 (5.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$79,596
-21% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,231
4.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$81,840
19% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $68,728/yr, Civil Engineering graduates from University of Rhode Island land near the $69,097 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 11.5x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $24,231 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #154 out of 220 programs, University of Rhode Island's financial outcomes for Civil Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $68,728 to $81,840 over five years (19% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About University of Rhode Island

With 77% of applicants admitted, University of Rhode Island prioritizes broad access, enrolling 13,822 students in Kingston, RI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Rhode Island →

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 Rhode Island

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Rhode Island's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 67/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Rhode Island trails the majority of Civil Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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 →