Civil Engineering at San Diego State University

San Diego State delivers strong outcomes in civil engineering at a price point that's hard to beat—graduates earn above the national median while carrying roughly 20% less debt than typical engineering students. At $73,584 within the first year, salaries already exceed what most civil engineering programs produce nationally, and that figure climbs to nearly $87,000 by year four.

The California context adds nuance. While SDSU falls middle-of-the-pack within the state (60th percentile), it's competing against some of the West Coast's most prestigious engineering schools. Those top programs—USC, Cal Poly SLO, Berkeley—do produce higher salaries, but often with significantly steeper debt loads or admission rates under 15%. SDSU's 34% admission rate means your student has a realistic shot at entry, and the robust sample size here (100+ graduates tracked) confirms these aren't outlier results.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 is the real story: graduates owe less than four months' salary, giving them immediate financial flexibility whether they're pursuing graduate school, saving for a house, or managing other life priorities. For families watching costs carefully, this program offers solidly above-average engineering outcomes without the financial stress that often accompanies them.