Civil Engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology

NJIT's civil engineering graduates start at $68,288, which lands them just below both the national and New Jersey medians for this major. Within the state, this program sits at the 40th percentile—meaning three of the six other NJ schools place their graduates into higher-paying positions. For context, Stevens leads at $74,011, while Rutgers and The College of New Jersey both exceed $70,000. The $24,085 in typical debt is actually slightly better than the state average, but the combination of below-median earnings and middle-of-the-pack debt creates a value proposition that's neither compelling nor concerning.

The 16% earnings growth to $79,267 by year four follows a normal trajectory for civil engineers, who typically see steady but unspectacular salary progression early in their careers. What's notable here is that NJIT admits two-thirds of applicants and serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (39%), suggesting it provides accessible engineering education rather than competing head-to-head with more selective programs.

For families weighing options, NJIT represents a safe middle choice: graduates reliably land engineering jobs with manageable debt, but you're paying similar amounts for outcomes that trail peer institutions by $2,000-$6,000 annually. If your child gained admission to Rutgers or TCNJ, those programs deliver measurably better starting salaries for comparable debt loads.