Civil Engineering at Clemson University

Clemson's civil engineering program lands squarely in the middle of the pack nationally, but edges ahead of most in-state alternatives—an important advantage for South Carolina families facing in-state tuition rates. At $69,386 in first-year earnings, graduates essentially match the national median while paying slightly above-average debt. Among the five South Carolina programs, this ranks 60th percentile, trailing only USC-Columbia by $38.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 is quite manageable for an engineering degree, meaning graduates earn back their total loan burden in less than five months. Perhaps more encouraging is the 9% earnings growth to $75,853 by year four, suggesting solid career momentum. With Clemson's engineering reputation and strong alumni network across the Southeast, graduates appear to be finding stable footing in the profession.

For South Carolina residents, this is a straightforward value proposition: you'll pay roughly what civil engineers nationally pay, earn what they earn, and have the brand recognition of a flagship engineering program. Out-of-state families should think harder—at OOS tuition rates, you'd be paying a premium for median outcomes when stronger programs exist at similar price points elsewhere.