Civil Engineering at University at Buffalo

UB's civil engineering program graduates earn about $6,000 less than the typical New York civil engineering graduate—landing in the 40th percentile statewide. That gap widens when you look nationally, where these graduates fall in just the 18th percentile. For context, Cornell grads in the same field earn $80,000 right out of school, but even nearby SUNY Stony Brook manages $71,856. The modest growth to $67,572 by year four suggests these engineers aren't catching up to their peers over time.

The debt picture offers some consolation: at $22,913, graduates owe slightly less than both state and national medians, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35. Combined with UB's accessible 69% admission rate and reasonable tuition costs, this program won't saddle your child with crushing debt. But the earnings gap is real and persistent—we're talking about $4,000-5,000 less per year compared to the state median, which compounds significantly over a career.

If your child has the academic profile for SUNY Stony Brook or can handle a more competitive admission environment, those alternatives deliver better returns in the same state system. UB works as a financially safe option for civil engineering, but the relatively weak earnings trajectory means your child may spend years making up ground on peers from stronger programs.