Construction Engineering at North Carolina State University at Raleigh

NC State's Construction Engineering program delivers exactly what you'd expect from a respected public flagship: graduates earning $76,574 their first year against manageable debt of $25,147. That 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio means borrowers could theoretically pay off their loans in about four months of gross income, which positions this among the stronger investment opportunities in engineering education.

The caveat here matters, though. With fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these numbers could shift significantly year to year. What we can say is that this cohort landed right at the national median for construction engineering programs—not spectacular, but solidly middle-of-the-pack at a school with strong industry connections throughout the Research Triangle and broader Southeast. For context, NC State's 1380 average SAT and 40% admission rate suggest you're getting access to quality faculty and recruiting pipelines without Ivy League selectivity.

The practical reality: construction engineering remains one of those degrees where job placement and starting salary matter more than prestige. Your child would graduate with debt that's entirely manageable on an entry-level construction engineer's salary, entering a field with steady demand for infrastructure work. Just recognize that small sample sizes mean you're placing more faith in NC State's broader engineering reputation than in these specific numbers.