Civil Engineering at Bucknell University

Bucknell's civil engineering program commands the premium pricing typical of a selective private school but delivers first-year earnings of $80,231—well above both national and Pennsylvania medians. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift significantly with more data, and the slight earnings decline by year four suggests graduates may not be advancing as quickly as expected in their early careers.

The $27,000 median debt is manageable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34—better than most bachelor's degrees. What's puzzling is the state ranking: while Bucknell sits in the 95th percentile nationally, it's only at the 60th percentile among Pennsylvania civil engineering programs. This likely reflects the strength of engineering education across the state rather than weakness at Bucknell, as the program still outearns competitors like Drexel and Villanova by $6,000-$9,000 in year one.

For families weighing Bucknell's $80,000+ annual cost of attendance against state schools, the premium depends on factors beyond just the earnings data: Bucknell's small classes and 32% admission rate suggest more personalized attention than you'd find at Penn State's larger program. But given the limited graduate sample, cautious parents might want to verify these outcomes hold up over time, particularly if their child is considering more affordable in-state options that could deliver similar starting salaries with less overall financial exposure.