Civil Engineering at University of South Alabama

Mobile, AL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
71 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
73
Optimistic
71
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $59,547/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 21.5x earnings multiple (11.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #91 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 $873K $832K $723K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 22.5x 21.5x 18.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 11.7x 11.2x 9.7x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 73 71 70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$38,704
Out-of-state: $74,608 (11.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$60,568
-56% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,366
5.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$86,917
46% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $59,547/yr, Civil Engineering graduates from University of South Alabama land near the $69,097 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 21.5x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $26,366 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #91 out of 220 programs, University of South Alabama's Civil Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $59,547 to $86,917 shows 46% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of South Alabama

University of South Alabama accepts 65% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, enrolling 8,540 students in Mobile, AL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of South Alabama →

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

How does University of South Alabama's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of South Alabama'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 →