Civil Engineering at University of Mississippi

The small sample size here is critical—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could shift dramatically with just a few data points. That said, the pattern suggests Ole Miss's civil engineering program lags significantly behind the national market, with first-year earnings nearly $11,500 below the national median.

Mississippi's limited engineering market complicates the picture. This program sits in the middle of just three options statewide, and the state median matches Ole Miss exactly at $58,112. Mississippi State graduates earn about $7,700 more in their first year—a meaningful gap that compounds over time. The $27,500 debt load is actually slightly above both state and national medians, though the 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable for engineering.

For families considering in-state tuition, this becomes a calculation about value versus alternatives. If Ole Miss offers substantially better financial aid or the student has strong reasons to stay local, the numbers work—civil engineers can absorb this debt level. But if Mississippi State is financially comparable, their graduates' earnings advantage is hard to ignore. And students willing to leave Mississippi will find median starting salaries $11,000 higher elsewhere, which over a career makes a significant difference. The ultra-high admission rate suggests academic preparation may vary widely among students, which could affect individual outcomes beyond what these aggregated numbers show.