Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degree) at Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico-Orlando

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$66,215

Est. from FL median (9 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$27,000

Est. from national median (44 programs)

Analysis

Florida's civil engineering programs typically produce strong early outcomes, but something unusual appears in this program's data: while first-year earnings align with the state median at an estimated $66,215, the reported four-year figure drops to $51,064—a pattern that contradicts typical career progression in this field. This decline warrants scrutiny before making any enrollment decision.

The estimated debt load of $27,000 creates a reasonable 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio against that first-year figure, slightly above Florida's typical $23,000 for civil engineering programs but manageable in a field where national benchmarks show $69,574 median earnings. However, if the four-year earnings figure reflects actual graduate outcomes rather than data anomalies, that same debt becomes considerably harder to service on a $51,000 salary.

The disconnect between estimated first-year and reported fourth-year earnings could stem from several factors—graduates leaving engineering for other work, regional salary variations, or small sample effects that skew the data. Given that both earnings and debt figures are estimates derived from peer institutions rather than this program's actual track record, and considering that established Florida programs like UCF and USF show stable earnings in the upper $60,000s to low $70,000s, you're essentially betting on limited information. Contact the school directly to understand their graduates' actual career paths and whether that four-year figure represents the norm or an outlier.

Where Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico-Orlando Stands

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

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico-Orlando	—	$51,064	—
Florida International University	$66,215	$79,749	+20%
University of Florida	$72,889	$79,578	+9%
University of South Florida	$70,047	$75,400	+8%
University of Central Florida	$69,321	$74,900	+8%

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Civil Engineering bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Florida (13 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico-OrlandoOrlando	$14,262	$66,215*	$51,064	$27,000*	—
University of FloridaGainesville	$6,381	$72,889*	$79,578	$20,121*	0.28
University of South FloridaTampa	$6,410	$70,047*	$75,400	$23,000*	0.33
University of Central FloridaOrlando	$6,368	$69,321*	$74,900	$21,374*	0.31
Florida State UniversityTallahassee	$5,656	$67,050*	$73,180	$23,199*	0.35
Florida International UniversityMiami	$6,565	$66,215*	$79,749	$21,250*	0.32
National Median	—	$69,574*	—	$24,500*	0.35

* Estimated from similar programs

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 Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico-Orlando, approximately 59% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 9 similar programs in FL. Actual outcomes may vary.