Civil Engineering at University of Utah

University of Utah civil engineering graduates start strong at $72,156—outpacing the national median by about $2,600 and ranking in the 71st percentile nationally. Within Utah's limited civil engineering market, this puts graduates above both BYU and Utah State, though the differences are modest across the state's four programs. The debt load of $24,426 translates to a manageable 0.34 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off loans in about four months of gross income.

The less encouraging pattern emerges in the four-year trajectory: earnings essentially flatline at $73,089, just a 1% increase over three years. While civil engineering careers often involve steady rather than explosive growth, this stagnation is worth noting—especially since the first-year earnings already represent most of what graduates can expect in the near term. The moderate sample size suggests this data is reasonably reliable, though limited to a few graduating cohorts.

For families weighing this investment, the math works out positively. Your child would graduate with below-average debt for the field while earning above-average starting pay. The University of Utah's 87% admission rate makes this outcome accessible to most applicants. Just understand that the strong starting salary is largely what you're buying—don't count on significant earnings momentum in those crucial early career years when many professionals see their biggest jumps.