Civil Engineering at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

UCD's civil engineering program produces graduates who earn well nationally but carry significantly more debt than their peers. While first-year earnings of $72,362 beat the national median by about $3,000, graduates leave with $38,460 in debt—roughly $13,000 more than typical civil engineering students in Colorado. That debt burden stands out: this program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for debt levels, meaning 95% of similar programs saddle students with less borrowing.

The state comparison reveals a concerning reality. Despite performing well nationally (73rd percentile), UCD ranks only in the 40th percentile among Colorado's five civil engineering programs. Colorado State and CU Boulder graduates start with similar salaries but presumably manage lower debt loads given state medians. The modest 6% earnings growth to $76,953 by year four suggests steady but unspectacular career progression.

For families weighing this option, the math is straightforward: your child would need to borrow about 50% more than peers at other Colorado schools to earn roughly the same starting salary. The 0.53 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic—graduates can manage this debt—but it's higher than necessary when comparable programs exist in-state. Unless location in Denver specifically matters for your family's situation, Colorado State or CU Boulder appear to offer better value for civil engineering.