Civil Engineering at University of Mount Union

In Ohio's crowded civil engineering market, Mount Union's program lands right at the state median based on comparable programs—estimated first-year earnings of $66,295 and debt around $26,000. That's respectable but unremarkable in a state where the top five programs all report earnings above $68,000, with Case Western and Dayton graduates clearing $71,000-$74,000 right out of the gate.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 suggests manageable repayment, especially for an engineering degree where salaries typically grow steadily. However, the earnings estimate trails the national median for civil engineering programs by about $3,300. Given that Mount Union is a small liberal arts college with an 80% admission rate—not traditionally known for engineering—you're paying for a different campus experience rather than specialized industry connections or advanced facilities that larger technical programs offer.

The practical question is whether Mount Union's smaller classes and personalized attention justify starting several thousand dollars behind graduates from Ohio's public engineering powerhouses. If your child thrives in intimate academic settings and values the liberal arts college environment, those estimated figures suggest the program won't create a debt crisis. But if maximizing engineering career prospects is the priority, the data points toward larger Ohio programs with proven track records and stronger early earnings.