Program Analysis
Graduates earn $71,246/yr, roughly in line with the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.2x 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 16% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $71,246 far exceeding the $21,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #88 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, University of Wisconsin-Madison scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $83,988 are relatively flat compared to the $71,246 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.