Civil Engineering at University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Platteville, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
73 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
73
Base Case
71
Pessimistic
Earnings $69,582/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Large (56,100 openings/yr)
ROI 22.5x earnings multiple (10.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #63 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 $779K $748K $661K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 23.4x 22.5x 19.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 11.3x 10.8x 9.6x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 75% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 73 71

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$33,260
Out-of-state: $69,096 (10.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,016
-77% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,750
3.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$81,237
17% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $69,582 track close to the $69,097 national median for Civil Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 22.5x 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 15% gap from the optimistic case.

At $21,750 in median debt against $69,582 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #63 of 220 Civil Engineering programs, University of Wisconsin-Platteville scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $81,237 are relatively flat compared to the $69,582 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About University of Wisconsin-Platteville

University of Wisconsin-Platteville has a 87% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 5,928 students in Platteville, WI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-Platteville →

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Civil Engineering at University of Wisconsin-Platteville?
This program scores 73/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Civil Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
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 $661,301 in decade earnings vs $778,826 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →