Civil Engineering at University of Minnesota-Duluth

At $65,175 in first-year earnings, UMN-Duluth's civil engineering program lands right in the middle of Minnesota's four engineering schools—nearly matching the state median but trailing Minnesota State-Mankato by about $4,700. The $26,044 in typical debt translates to a manageable 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates earn more than twice what they owe. This sits comfortably within industry norms for engineering programs.

The national percentile ranking (21st) looks concerning at first glance, but context matters: Civil engineering salaries vary dramatically by region and local construction activity. In Minnesota's market, this program performs exactly as expected, hitting the 40th percentile statewide. The 7% earnings growth to nearly $70,000 by year four suggests stable career progression, though it's worth noting that engineering salaries typically see larger jumps when graduates gain their Professional Engineer licenses around the five-year mark.

For Minnesota families, this represents solid value—especially considering Duluth's 82% admission rate makes it more accessible than Twin Cities' competitive programs. Your child will graduate with manageable debt and earn a respectable engineering salary in a region where cost of living remains reasonable. The program won't put them at the top of Minnesota's engineering market, but it provides a reliable path to a middle-class engineering career without the debt burden that derails many graduates.