Civil Engineering at University of Arkansas

University of Arkansas civil engineering graduates start with below-average salaries compared to the national engineering landscape, earning about $62,000 in their first year—roughly $7,500 less than the typical civil engineering grad nationwide. That places this program in just the 5th percentile nationally, which initially looks concerning. However, within Arkansas, this is actually the median outcome for civil engineering students, ranking in the 60th percentile among the state's three programs. The reality is that Arkansas civil engineering salaries simply run lower than the national average, likely reflecting regional cost of living and industry compensation patterns.

The debt picture is more favorable: $26,875 is manageable for an engineering degree, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43—well within reasonable bounds for a technical field. Graduates see steady earnings growth of 12% by year four, reaching nearly $70,000. For a family planning to stay in Arkansas or the surrounding region, this program delivers solid engineering credentials at an accessible price point from a flagship state university.

The key consideration is geographic: if your student plans to pursue civil engineering opportunities in higher-paying markets like Texas or the West Coast, they'll be competing with graduates who started at higher salary baselines. For Arkansas-focused careers, this represents fair value for a practical engineering education.