Civil Engineering at George Washington University

A civil engineering degree from George Washington comes with an estimated $27,000 in debt—slightly above the national norm for the field—while comparable programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $69,574. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 is manageable, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under five months if they devoted their entire first-year salary to it. By year four, the program shows actual reported earnings of $87,026, demonstrating solid mid-career momentum.

The challenge here is that other DC engineering programs appear to deliver stronger immediate outcomes. Catholic University graduates earn a reported $77,501 early on, nearly $8,000 more than what peer programs nationally suggest for GW. Given that DC's median for civil engineering sits at $77,501, GW's estimated first-year figure looks like it may lag behind local market rates. Whether that gap reflects GW's actual outcomes or is simply an artifact of using national estimates remains unclear, but it's worth investigating why this program's data is suppressed when competitors are reporting.

The debt burden itself isn't alarming for an engineering degree, but you're paying private school prices for outcomes that—based on available estimates—look closer to national averages than DC-specific results. If your child is set on GW for its location or broader campus experience, the financial foundation appears solid enough. But if maximizing early engineering earnings is the priority, other DC options may deliver better immediate returns.