Civil Engineering at University of Nebraska at Omaha

UNO's civil engineering program produces graduates earning just below both state and national benchmarks—$68,574 versus Nebraska's $69,558 median and the national $69,574. That $1,000 gap might seem minor, but for a civil engineering degree where starting salaries cluster fairly tightly, it puts this program at the 40th percentile among Nebraska programs. With only two civil engineering programs in the state, University of Nebraska-Lincoln becomes the natural comparison, and their graduates out-earn UNO by about $2,000 annually. The debt load of $23,891 is actually slightly lower than state and national medians, yielding a manageable 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio.

The real concern here is stagnation: earnings barely budge between year one and year four, growing just 1%. Most engineering graduates see meaningful salary progression as they gain experience and licensure. This flat trajectory suggests graduates may struggle to advance or aren't moving into higher-paying roles, which matters more over a 30-year career than a slightly lower starting point. With UNL offering similar access (both are public Nebraska schools) and better outcomes, families should weigh whether UNO's location advantages—internships in Omaha's market, potentially living at home—offset the modest earnings difference and limited growth trajectory.