Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians at University of Maryland Eastern Shore

With first-year earnings of $68,809, this program significantly outperforms the national median of $59,382 for civil engineering technology bachelor's degrees—placing it in the 95th percentile nationally. The estimated $27,500 in debt, based on the borrowing patterns of similar University of Maryland Eastern Shore graduates, produces a manageable 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's roughly five months of gross salary, which should allow most graduates to handle payments comfortably while building savings.

What makes these numbers particularly meaningful is the student population they serve. With 53% of students receiving Pell grants and a 90% admission rate, UMES is providing access to a technical field that typically requires strong math and science preparation. The earnings outcome suggests the program is successfully preparing students—many from lower-income backgrounds—for well-paying technical roles in construction, transportation, or municipal engineering departments. While Maryland only has one program in this specific field (making state comparisons impossible), the strong national performance speaks for itself.

For parents weighing this investment, the estimated debt load appears reasonable given the earnings trajectory in civil engineering technology. The key uncertainty is whether your student will match these outcomes—the small graduate cohort means we're extrapolating from peer data rather than seeing verified results from this exact program. But the fundamentals look solid: a field with clear career paths, earnings well above the national average, and manageable debt based on comparable UMES programs.