Civil Engineering at University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame's civil engineering graduates earn $74,499 in their first year—nearly $5,000 above the national median and placing them in the 91st percentile nationally. That's an impressive premium for a program at one of the country's most selective universities. However, within Indiana, the picture is less remarkable: this performance lands at just the 60th percentile, essentially matching what Purdue and Rose-Hulman deliver while charging families far less in total cost of attendance.

The debt load tells a more favorable story. At $20,100, Notre Dame civil engineering graduates carry about $5,400 less debt than their Indiana peers and roughly $4,400 below the national median. The 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio is excellent, meaning graduates owe roughly three months' salary—highly manageable even for those entering public sector or municipal engineering roles. Earnings growth to $85,090 by year four is solid but not spectacular at 14%, suggesting these graduates start strong rather than experiencing dramatic career acceleration.

For families who can afford Notre Dame's sticker price or qualify for substantial aid, this program delivers strong outcomes with minimal debt burden. But if you're comparing strictly on civil engineering ROI within Indiana, Purdue offers nearly identical starting salaries at a significantly lower total cost for in-state students. The Notre Dame premium buys you the broader university experience and alumni network—valuable, but not reflected in these earnings numbers alone.