Civil Engineering at Trine University

At $65,700, Trine's civil engineering graduates start roughly $6,000 below Indiana's median and $4,000 below the national benchmark—landing this program at the 40th percentile statewide. More concerning, earnings barely budge over the next three years, growing just 1% while graduates at stronger Indiana programs like Purdue and Notre Dame typically see steeper trajectories. You're paying nearly the same debt load as state peers ($27,000 vs. $25,566 median) but getting noticeably lower returns.

The 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't alarming on its own, but the stagnant salary growth suggests Trine graduates may struggle to keep pace with peers who land at firms offering clearer advancement paths. With eight other civil engineering programs in Indiana—several producing graduates who immediately earn $8,000-$9,000 more—the opportunity cost here is real. Trine's 85% admission rate and selective program size (moderate cohorts of 30-100) suggest it's accessible but not necessarily competitive with the state's engineering powerhouses.

If your child has strong options at Purdue, Rose-Hulman, or even Valparaiso, those programs deliver better financial outcomes. Trine could work for students prioritizing smaller classes or specific campus culture, but go in knowing they'll likely start behind Indiana peers and may need to work harder to catch up through strategic internships or early career moves.