Location: Southfield, MI•In-State Tuition: $41,872•Admission Rate: 80%
Median Earnings (1yr)
$77,836
95th percentile
60th percentile in Michigan
Median Debt
$30,197
23% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.39 ManageableSample: 16 graduates Limited data

Analysis

Lawrence Tech's civil engineering program reports impressive first-year earnings of $77,836, outpacing not just the national median ($69,574) but also every other civil engineering program in Michigan—including larger state universities. At $30,197 in typical debt, graduates carry a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39, meaning they could theoretically pay off their loans in under five months of gross earnings. This combination puts the program in elite territory nationally.

However, the sample size here matters significantly—fewer than 30 graduates were tracked, which means these outcomes could reflect a particularly successful cohort rather than the program norm. It's notable that despite ranking in the 95th percentile nationally, the program sits at just the 60th percentile within Michigan, suggesting the state's civil engineering programs generally produce strong outcomes. With an 80% admission rate and relatively low Pell enrollment, Lawrence Tech may also be drawing students from families with existing professional networks, which can boost early earnings independent of program quality.

For families comfortable with the tuition investment, these numbers are encouraging—civil engineering graduates here appear to launch well financially. But given the small sample, parents should dig deeper: ask the school for multi-year placement data and verify that recent graduates are consistently reaching these salary levels before banking on this outcome.

Where Lawrence Technological University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all civil engineering bachelors's programs nationally

Lawrence Technological UniversityOther civil engineering programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Lawrence Technological University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Lawrence Technological University earns $78k — 95th percentile among civil engineering bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Michigan

Civil Engineering bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Michigan (8 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Lawrence Technological UniversitySouthfield$41,872$77,836—$30,1970.39
Wayne State UniversityDetroit$14,297$73,488$76,871$30,5480.42
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing$15,988$72,048$78,668$27,0000.37
Michigan Technological UniversityHoughton$18,392$70,928$75,832$26,0000.37
Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo$15,298$69,706$69,950$29,1560.42
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor$17,228$67,764$85,123$18,7500.28
National Median—$69,574—$24,5000.35

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with civil engineering graduates

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers

Define, plan, or execute biofuels/biodiesel research programs that evaluate alternative feedstock and process technologies with near-term commercial potential.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Petroleum Engineers

Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.

$141,280/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Engineers

Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.

$104,170/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers

Conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. May specify the ground support systems, processes, and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. May inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. May design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs.

$101,020/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Civil Engineers

Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems.

$99,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Transportation Engineers

Develop plans for surface transportation projects, according to established engineering standards and state or federal construction policy. Prepare designs, specifications, or estimates for transportation facilities. Plan modifications of existing streets, highways, or freeways to improve traffic flow.

$99,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water/Wastewater Engineers

Design or oversee projects involving provision of potable water, disposal of wastewater and sewage, or prevention of flood-related damage. Prepare environmental documentation for water resources, regulatory program compliance, data management and analysis, and field work. Perform hydraulic modeling and pipeline design.

$99,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services. Includes teachers of subjects such as chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mineral, and petroleum engineering. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Engineers, All Other

All engineers not listed separately.

Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar

Design, develop, or evaluate energy-related projects or programs to reduce energy costs or improve energy efficiency during the designing, building, or remodeling stages of construction. May specialize in electrical systems; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems; green buildings; lighting; air quality; or energy procurement.

Mechatronics Engineers

Research, design, develop, or test automation, intelligent systems, smart devices, or industrial systems control.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Lawrence Technological University, approximately 17% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 16 graduates with reported earnings and 19 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.