Civil Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Rose-Hulman's civil engineering program charges a premium price but delivers solid, if not spectacular, returns. At $73,821 in first-year earnings, graduates edge out the national median by about $4,000 and rank in the 85th percentile nationally. Within Indiana, though, the picture is more competitive—this sits at the 60th percentile, essentially matching what students earn from Purdue or Notre Dame's programs despite Rose-Hulman's elite engineering reputation and 1389 average SAT scores.

The debt load of $24,132 is manageable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33 that most families can handle comfortably. Earnings growth to nearly $80,000 by year four shows steady career progression. However, it's worth noting that Purdue's graduates start at similar salaries with comparable debt, while Notre Dame edges ahead slightly—both at schools with broader name recognition outside engineering circles.

For families paying Rose-Hulman's private school tuition, this program delivers reliable engineering outcomes without the standout premium you might expect from a specialized STEM institution. Your child will enter the workforce earning more than most civil engineers nationally, but won't necessarily out-earn peers from Indiana's flagship public university who paid far less to get there.