Civil Engineering at Quinnipiac University

Quinnipiac's civil engineering program charges more and delivers less than its in-state competition, a troubling combination for Connecticut families. While the $73,064 starting salary sounds strong in absolute terms, it barely edges out Central Connecticut State ($71,859), which likely costs thousands less per year in tuition. The $27,000 median debt is actually above Connecticut's typical civil engineering debt of $23,825, meaning graduates here are borrowing more than peers at comparable state programs.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 is manageable—graduates earn enough to handle their loans without serious strain. But that's table stakes for engineering, not an achievement. At an institution with a 77% admission rate, you'd expect more competitive pricing or notably better outcomes. The 60th percentile ranking among Connecticut civil engineering programs means this sits squarely in the middle of the pack, despite what you're probably paying in private school tuition.

One major caveat: the sample size is under 30 graduates, so a few outlier salaries could skew these numbers significantly. Still, the pattern is clear enough—you're paying a premium without getting premium results. Connecticut families have several public options that produce similar or better starting salaries with lower debt loads.