Location: Cleveland, OH•In-State Tuition: $64,671•Admission Rate: 29%•Avg SAT: 1501
Median Earnings (1yr)
$74,266
89th percentile
60th percentile in Ohio
Median Debt
$25,190
3% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.34 ManageableSample: 21 graduates Limited data

Analysis

Case Western Reserve delivers solid first-year earnings for civil engineering graduates at $74,266, outpacing the national median by nearly $5,000 and placing in the 89th percentile nationally. However, the Ohio context reveals a more competitive landscape—this program ranks in the 60th percentile statewide, trailing programs at University of Dayton, University of Cincinnati, and University of Toledo by roughly $3,000 annually. Given Case Western's selective admissions (29% acceptance rate, 1501 average SAT) and relatively high tuition, in-state families might reasonably question whether the premium justifies outcomes that several other Ohio programs match or exceed.

The debt picture is manageable: at $25,190, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34, meaning they could theoretically pay off their loans in about four months of gross salary. That's favorable for any engineering program. But keep in mind this data comes from a small cohort (under 30 graduates), so individual outcomes may vary more than these medians suggest.

For students choosing between Ohio civil engineering programs purely on return metrics, Case Western's premium positioning doesn't translate to premium earnings outcomes. If your child already has strong merit aid from Case or values its research opportunities and smaller program size, the numbers work fine. Otherwise, several peer Ohio programs deliver comparable or better first-year earnings with similar debt loads.

Where Case Western Reserve University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all civil engineering bachelors's programs nationally

Case Western Reserve UniversityOther civil engineering programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Case Western Reserve University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Case Western Reserve University earns $74k — 89th percentile among civil engineering bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

Civil Engineering bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (18 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland$64,671$74,266—$25,1900.34
University of DaytonDayton$47,600$71,411$74,487$26,5000.37
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati$13,570$71,377$80,489$24,5000.34
University of ToledoToledo$12,377$70,388$67,406$20,5000.29
Ohio Northern UniversityAda$37,800$68,129$77,619$25,9610.38
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus$12,859$68,031$74,132$23,5450.35
National Median—$69,574—$24,5000.35

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with civil engineering graduates

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers

Define, plan, or execute biofuels/biodiesel research programs that evaluate alternative feedstock and process technologies with near-term commercial potential.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Petroleum Engineers

Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.

$141,280/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Engineers

Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.

$104,170/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers

Conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. May specify the ground support systems, processes, and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. May inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. May design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs.

$101,020/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Civil Engineers

Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems.

$99,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Transportation Engineers

Develop plans for surface transportation projects, according to established engineering standards and state or federal construction policy. Prepare designs, specifications, or estimates for transportation facilities. Plan modifications of existing streets, highways, or freeways to improve traffic flow.

$99,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water/Wastewater Engineers

Design or oversee projects involving provision of potable water, disposal of wastewater and sewage, or prevention of flood-related damage. Prepare environmental documentation for water resources, regulatory program compliance, data management and analysis, and field work. Perform hydraulic modeling and pipeline design.

$99,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services. Includes teachers of subjects such as chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mineral, and petroleum engineering. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Engineers, All Other

All engineers not listed separately.

Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar

Design, develop, or evaluate energy-related projects or programs to reduce energy costs or improve energy efficiency during the designing, building, or remodeling stages of construction. May specialize in electrical systems; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems; green buildings; lighting; air quality; or energy procurement.

Mechatronics Engineers

Research, design, develop, or test automation, intelligent systems, smart devices, or industrial systems control.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Case Western Reserve University, approximately 17% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 21 graduates with reported earnings and 24 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.