Civil Engineering at University of the Pacific

The $27,000 debt load here falls significantly above the state median of $18,820 for civil engineering programs, though outcomes from comparable California programs suggest earnings that should make this manageable. Based on peer programs statewide, graduates typically start around $73,541—enough to service this debt without severe strain, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37. By year four, median earnings of $92,409 put graduates on solid financial footing, tracking well above the national benchmark and climbing faster than many engineering disciplines.

What's less certain is whether University of the Pacific specifically delivers the same value as programs like Cal Poly SLO or UC Berkeley that produce markedly higher earners. The 95% admission rate suggests this isn't competing for the same student pool as those selective programs, yet graduates here face 43% more debt than the typical California civil engineering student. That gap matters when you're starting your career with monthly loan payments.

The practical question: will your student graduate into the same California infrastructure and construction job market that rewards civil engineers from Cal Poly or USC? If University of the Pacific's program offers comparable industry connections and ABET accreditation, the debt premium may be worth paying for a smaller school experience. But you're betting that estimated outcomes from peer programs translate to this specific institution—a reasonable wager given strong year-four earnings, but one that deserves direct questions to the school about job placement rates and employer relationships.