Civil Engineering at Jackson State University

Jackson State's civil engineering program starts graduates at $49,498—about $20,000 below the national median for this field and $8,600 below Mississippi's already-modest state median. While the 40th percentile ranking within Mississippi might sound middling, remember there are only three civil engineering programs in the state, meaning this effectively trails both Mississippi State ($65,805) and Ole Miss by significant margins. The $31,000 debt load is higher than both national and state medians for civil engineering, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that's workable but not ideal at 0.63.

The encouraging part is the growth trajectory: earnings jump 43% to $70,889 by year four, finally surpassing the national median. This suggests employers value the experience these graduates gain on the job, even if initial salaries lag. For students from low-income backgrounds—68% of JSU students receive Pell grants—this could represent meaningful upward mobility despite the rough start.

The practical question is whether your child can weather those early years earning substantially less than peers from Mississippi State while carrying slightly more debt. If JSU offers significantly lower tuition or if your family prioritizes attending an HBCU with strong community ties, the eventual earnings could justify the initial gap. But purely as a financial investment, Mississippi State's civil engineering program offers better starting returns.