Civil Engineering at Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern's civil engineering graduates earn about $6,400 less than the typical Georgia civil engineering grad their first year out, landing at the 40th percentile statewide—below the three other major Georgia programs but not drastically so. The debt load of $26,250 is essentially average for Georgia engineering students, making the real story here about the earnings gap rather than excessive borrowing. With a 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates need about five months of gross income to cover their student debt, which remains manageable even with the lower starting salaries.

The 9% earnings growth to nearly $69,000 by year four helps narrow the gap with other programs, though Georgia Tech and UGA graduates still maintain their advantage. For students who want to stay in Georgia and pursue civil engineering but don't have the academic profile for the more selective programs (Georgia Southern admits 90% of applicants with average SATs around 1050), this provides a viable path into the field without crushing debt.

The modest sample size suggests reliability, and the numbers are straightforward: you're trading about $10,000 in annual earnings compared to Georgia Tech for significantly easier admission. Whether that trade-off makes sense depends on your alternatives—if your child can get into a higher-ranked program, the earnings difference will likely compound over a career. If not, Georgia Southern offers solid access to engineering careers at a reasonable cost.