Civil Engineering at Youngstown State University

Youngstown State's civil engineering program starts graduates at $59,149—roughly $10,000 below the national median and $7,000 below Ohio's typical civil engineering earnings. While it sits at just the 5th percentile nationally, the more relevant comparison for budget-conscious families is Ohio: here it ranks in the 40th percentile, meaning half of state programs deliver even lower returns. Still, every public university nearby—Toledo, Cincinnati, Akron—launches graduates with $5,000 to $12,000 higher starting salaries.

The $27,000 debt load is exactly Ohio's median for civil engineering and actually reasonable relative to first-year earnings (a 0.46 ratio is manageable). Graduates see solid 11% earnings growth to $65,539 by year four, suggesting the credential holds up professionally even if the initial placement lags. For students who can commute or have strong ties to the Youngstown area, these numbers work—the debt is containable and the degree delivers steady income growth.

The real question is opportunity cost. If your child can gain admission to Toledo or Cincinnati's engineering programs (both accessible with similar admission standards), the extra $5,000-$10,000 in annual earnings quickly compounds over a career. Youngstown State works for families prioritizing proximity and lower living costs, but students willing to relocate for school should strongly consider Ohio's higher-performing public options.