Civil Engineering at Boise State University

Boise State's civil engineering program lands squarely in the middle of Idaho's limited engineering landscape, but that's not necessarily reassuring. At $65,648 in first-year earnings, graduates trail the state median by $1,600 and fall well below the national median of $69,574—ranking in just the 24th percentile nationally. While the debt load of $27,000 isn't crushing, it's higher than both state and national medians, creating a 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio that's manageable but not impressive.

What's more concerning is the minimal earnings growth over four years—just 3% isn't keeping pace with inflation, much less demonstrating career momentum. For comparison, University of Idaho engineering graduates start $3,200 higher and likely see better progression. Civil engineering typically offers steady, middle-class careers, but Boise State's program appears to be delivering below-average entry points for this field. The 40th percentile ranking within Idaho suggests this program is acceptable but unremarkable, even in a state with only four options.

For families evaluating this program, the math works if your student has substantial merit aid or is attending for in-state tuition reasons. The debt burden won't be debilitating, and civil engineers do find stable work. However, if you're paying anything close to full price or taking on additional private loans, the University of Idaho's stronger outcomes justify looking north to Moscow first.