Civil Engineering at Cleveland State University

Cleveland State's civil engineering program sits squarely in the middle of Ohio's offerings—matching the state median at $66,295—but trails the national median by about $3,300. More concerning is the slight earnings dip by year four, though this could reflect the program's moderate sample size rather than a systemic problem. The debt load is notably manageable at $29,750, which translates to a 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio that's better than most engineering programs nationwide.

For Ohio families, the value calculation here is straightforward: your child will earn about the same as graduates from other in-state civil engineering programs, but Cleveland State's 95% admission rate and strong Pell grant population suggest it serves students who might not access programs like Case Western ($74,266 starting salary) or Cincinnati ($71,377). The $4,000-5,000 salary gap compared to these selective alternatives is real but not insurmountable, especially given Cleveland State's likely lower tuition and living costs.

The key question is whether paying Cleveland State's price makes sense when schools like Toledo and Ohio Northern produce graduates earning $2,000-4,000 more. If Cleveland State offers in-state tuition or significant financial aid, the modest debt load combined with median earnings makes this a reasonable choice. But families should confirm the total cost of attendance—if it's comparable to other Ohio publics, those alternatives deliver better starting salaries with similar debt.