Civil Engineering at University of Colorado Boulder

CU Boulder's civil engineering program delivers strong early earnings at $73,033, placing it in the 79th percentile nationally—well above the $69,574 national median. More importantly for Colorado families, graduates earn competitively within the state, landing in the 60th percentile and nearly matching Colorado State's outcomes. The $20,500 median debt is notably lower than both the national ($24,500) and state ($25,240) benchmarks, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.28. That means graduates owe roughly three months' salary, making this one of the more manageable debt loads in engineering.

The modest 3% earnings growth to $75,539 by year four reflects civil engineering's relatively flat early-career trajectory rather than a program-specific weakness—this field typically sees steadier, longer-term progression rather than the dramatic early jumps found in software engineering. CU Boulder's 83% admission rate makes this program accessible while still maintaining solid outcomes, and the combination of above-average earnings with below-average debt makes it particularly compelling for families watching both sides of the ROI equation.

For parents evaluating civil engineering programs, CU Boulder offers a rare combination: nationally competitive earnings, manageable debt, and reasonable admission standards. The value proposition here is straightforward—your student can access a well-established engineering program without gambling on admission to Colorado School of Mines while still achieving comparable or better financial outcomes.