Civil Engineering at University of California-Los Angeles

UCLA's Civil Engineering program sits in an interesting middle ground—outperforming national averages decisively while trailing several California rivals. Graduates earn $75,510 in their first year, placing them in the 95th percentile nationally but only the 60th percentile within California. That's hardly surprising: the state is home to powerhouse programs at USC, Cal Poly SLO, and Berkeley, all of which deliver higher starting salaries. Still, UCLA graduates earn 20% more by year four, suggesting solid career trajectory, and they carry just $19,444 in debt—slightly above the state median but well below the national average.

The real question is whether UCLA's premium (it's far harder to get into than most California engineering schools) translates to better outcomes. The answer seems to be: not dramatically, at least not immediately. Cal Poly SLO graduates out-earn UCLA grads by about $5,000 despite a much higher admission rate. For families paying out-of-state tuition, this could matter. For in-state students, the debt burden remains manageable and the UCLA name carries weight in the long run.

Bottom line: This is a solid program that won't saddle students with crushing debt, but parents banking on UCLA's selectivity to deliver top-tier California engineering salaries should temper expectations. The earnings are strong—just not exceptional by California standards.