Civil Engineering at Central State University

Based on comparable civil engineering programs in Ohio, graduates typically earn around $66,000 in their first year—solidly middle-of-the-pack for the state but slightly below the national median of $69,574. The estimated $27,000 debt load translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, which falls within manageable territory for an engineering degree. Civil engineering generally offers stable career trajectories with licensing pathways that boost mid-career earnings, making this a field where initial salary differences often narrow over time.

The challenge here is that Central State's small graduate sample means we're working with educated guesses rather than tracked outcomes for this specific program. The estimates place it near Ohio's median, but looking at schools with reported data—where programs range from $68,000 to $74,000—there's meaningful variation in how well Ohio civil engineering programs position their graduates. With 42% of Central State students receiving Pell grants, the affordability picture matters even more for families watching every dollar.

If your child is set on civil engineering and values Central State's environment, the projected debt-to-earnings ratio shouldn't derail those plans. But given the estimation uncertainty, it's worth directly asking the school about recent graduate outcomes, internship partnerships with Ohio infrastructure firms, and pass rates for the Fundamentals of Engineering exam—concrete indicators that could confirm whether this program delivers on engineering's typical employment promise.