Civil Engineering at New York University

NYU's civil engineering graduates start at $72,628—a solid figure that beats the national median and places the program in the 75th percentile nationally. But context matters here: within New York's competitive engineering landscape, this lands squarely in the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile. You're paying for the NYU brand in one of the world's most expensive cities, yet graduates earn less than those from Cornell, Manhattan University, Syracuse, and even SUNY Stony Brook, which comes with significantly lower tuition.

The financial fundamentals work reasonably well. With median debt under $22,000—about $2,500 less than the national average—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 means graduates can manage their loans comfortably. Earnings climb to $85,000 by year four, showing healthy career progression. For families who can afford NYU's price tag without excessive borrowing, the combination of strong starting salaries and manageable debt makes this viable.

The calculation changes if you're comparing tuition bills. NYU charges private school rates while delivering outcomes comparable to several more affordable New York programs. If your child can gain admission to NYU (just 9% acceptance rate), they likely have options at schools where civil engineering graduates earn similar or better salaries at lower cost. Unless the urban campus or specific NYU opportunities justify the premium, other New York engineering programs offer better value for this particular major.