Construction Management at University of Nebraska at Omaha

Construction management graduates from UNO enter a strong job market, earning $76,132 right out of school—nearly $3,400 above the national median for this degree. With just under $25,000 in debt, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32 means graduates owe roughly one-third of their first-year salary, positioning them to pay off loans relatively quickly. This matches the national debt load for the program, making it neither a bargain nor particularly expensive. Nebraska only has two schools offering construction management degrees, and UNO's outcomes match the state median, suggesting consistent results across the limited options available.

The catch: earnings barely budge over the first four years, growing just 1% to $77,005. While construction managers typically command solid starting salaries, this flat trajectory suggests graduates may need to change employers, pursue certifications, or take on larger projects to see meaningful income growth. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) also means a few outliers could skew these numbers in either direction, so individual outcomes may vary more than usual.

For parents evaluating this program, the immediate earning power should cover the debt burden comfortably, and construction management remains an in-demand field. Just temper expectations about automatic salary growth—your graduate will likely need to be strategic about career advancement rather than counting on years of service alone to boost their paycheck.