Civil Engineering at University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
69 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
70
Optimistic
69
Base Case
66
Pessimistic
Earnings $74,772/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 10.4x earnings multiple (3.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #130 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 $919K $873K $754K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.9x 10.4x 9.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.0x 3.8x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 70 69 66

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$83,944
Out-of-state: $232,056 (3.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$91,524
-9% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,400
2.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$95,518
28% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $74,772 at University of Virginia-Main Campus come in 8% above the national median of $69,097 for Civil Engineering programs.

The 10.4x 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 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $74,772 far exceeding the $14,400 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #130 out of 220 programs, University of Virginia-Main Campus's financial outcomes for Civil Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $74,772 to $95,518 shows 28% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Virginia-Main Campus

University of Virginia-Main Campus accepts 17% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, enrolling 17,315 students in Charlottesville, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Virginia-Main 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 Virginia-Main Campus

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Virginia-Main Campus's Civil Engineering program score?
A score of 69/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Virginia-Main Campus 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 →