Civil Engineering at University of California-Davis

UC Davis civil engineering graduates start at $75,000 and climb to over $91,000 within four years—solid earnings that beat 95% of programs nationwide. But here's the context that matters for California families: while this ranks in the 60th percentile among in-state programs, the gap to top performers like USC or Cal Poly isn't dramatic, and Davis delivers something those schools often can't match: remarkably low debt at just $16,100.

That debt figure puts Davis in the 95th percentile nationally for affordability, meaning graduates carry roughly one-third the burden of typical civil engineering students. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21 translates to manageable payments—graduates can realistically pay off loans within a year or two of full-time work. The 21% earnings growth over four years also suggests this program places students on solid career trajectories rather than just entry-level positions.

For in-state students especially, this represents exceptional value. You're accessing a top-tier UC education, avoiding the crushing debt loads common at private competitors, and entering a profession with clear upward mobility. The 42% admission rate means it's competitive but achievable, and the strong Pell grant enrollment (31%) suggests the school supports economic diversity. Your child can launch a stable engineering career without the financial anxiety that often shadows college graduates.