Civil Engineering: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 82 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$96,805 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$96,805Median year-4 earnings
$18,553Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$96,805Median reported earnings · year 4
$97,639Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
66thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
82Reporting programs
82With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $70,850
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $85,076
- Federal debt
- $24,667
- Reporting programs
- 238
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $96,805
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 82
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$91,116National median$96,80575th percentile$103,805
82 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Southern California$130,6752California State University, Los Angeles$120,6513North Carolina State University at Raleigh$120,2344Manhattan University$119,9675University of California, San Diego$112,2236Stanford University$112,1187Johns Hopkins University$111,9868Columbia University in the City of New York$111,9249California State Polytechnic University-Pomona$110,86310Mississippi State University$110,821Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Architectural and Engineering ManagersSOC 11-9041 · 6 crosswalk linksCivil EngineersSOC 17-2051 · 6 crosswalk linksEngineering Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1032 · 6 crosswalk linksEngineers, All OtherSOC 17-2199 · 2 crosswalk linksEnvironmental EngineersSOC 17-2081 · 2 crosswalk linksMining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety EngineersSOC 17-2151 · 1 crosswalk linksPetroleum EngineersSOC 17-2171 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern CaliforniaMaster's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $130,675 | Not available | Baseline needed | $32,740 |
| 2 | California State University, Los AngelesMaster's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $120,651 | Not available | Baseline needed | $3,967 |
| 3 | North Carolina State University at RaleighMaster's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $120,234 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,303 |
| 4 | Manhattan UniversityMaster's Degree | Riverdale, NY | $119,967 | Not available | Baseline needed | $27,256 |
| 5 | University of California, San DiegoMaster's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $112,223 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,470 |
| 6 | Stanford UniversityMaster's Degree | Stanford, CA | $112,118 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,807 |
| 7 | Johns Hopkins UniversityMaster's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $111,986 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,809 |
| 8 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $111,924 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,590 |
| 9 | California State Polytechnic University-PomonaMaster's Degree | Pomona, CA | $110,863 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,531 |
| 10 | Mississippi State UniversityMaster's Degree | Mississippi State, MS | $110,821 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,595 |
| 11 | Wayne State UniversityMaster's Degree | Detroit, MI | $108,995 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,766 |
| 12 | California State University, FullertonMaster's Degree | Fullerton, CA | $108,826 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,555 |
| 13 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickMaster's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $108,638 | Not available | Baseline needed | $24,406 |
| 14 | Villanova UniversityMaster's Degree | Villanova, PA | $108,449 | Not available | Baseline needed | $43,756 |
| 15 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusMaster's Degree | Seattle, WA | $108,274 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,091 |
| 16 | California State University, SacramentoMaster's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $108,193 | Not available | Baseline needed | $9,338 |
| 17 | New Jersey Institute of TechnologyMaster's Degree | Newark, NJ | $107,682 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,504 |
| 18 | University of California, DavisMaster's Degree | Davis, CA | $106,894 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,741 |
| 19 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoMaster's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $106,004 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,665 |
| 20 | University of KansasMaster's Degree | Lawrence, KS | $105,565 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,059 |
| 21 | California State University, NorthridgeMaster's Degree | Northridge, CA | $104,388 | Not available | Baseline needed | $7,021 |
| 22 | The University of Texas at San AntonioMaster's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $103,805 | Not available | Baseline needed | $10,836 |
| 23 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusMaster's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $103,788 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,434 |
| 24 | University of California, Los AngelesMaster's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $103,685 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,548 |
| 25 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignMaster's Degree | Champaign, IL | $103,656 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,355 |
| 26 | George Mason UniversityMaster's Degree | Fairfax, VA | $103,586 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,915 |
| 27 | Brigham Young UniversityMaster's Degree | Provo, UT | $103,440 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,564 |
| 28 | University of Alaska AnchorageMaster's Degree | Anchorage, AK | $103,070 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,301 |
| 29 | Northeastern UniversityMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $100,767 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,915 |
| 30 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityMaster's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $99,698 | Not available | Baseline needed | $24,953 |
| 31 | New York UniversityMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $99,685 | Not available | Baseline needed | $37,050 |
| 32 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $99,226 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,116 |
| 33 | The University of Texas at AustinMaster's Degree | Austin, TX | $99,079 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,857 |
| 34 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborMaster's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $99,050 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,138 |
| 35 | Oregon State UniversityMaster's Degree | Corvallis, OR | $98,705 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,604 |
| 36 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusMaster's Degree | Bend, OR | $98,705 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,048 |
| 37 | University of Colorado BoulderMaster's Degree | Boulder, CO | $98,355 | Not available | Baseline needed | $25,346 |
| 38 | Ohio University-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Athens, OH | $97,552 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,637 |
| 39 | The University of Texas at ArlingtonMaster's Degree | Arlington, TX | $96,956 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,951 |
| 40 | University of Missouri-Kansas CityMaster's Degree | Kansas City, MO | $96,926 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,310 |
| 41 | Auburn UniversityMaster's Degree | Auburn, AL | $96,904 | Not available | Baseline needed | $24,323 |
| 42 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionMaster's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $96,706 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,967 |
| 43 | Illinois Institute of TechnologyMaster's Degree | Chicago, IL | $96,477 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,425 |
| 44 | University of Nevada-Las VegasMaster's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $95,788 | Not available | Baseline needed | $10,359 |
| 45 | Texas A&M University-College StationMaster's Degree | College Station, TX | $95,761 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,315 |
| 46 | Stevens Institute of TechnologyMaster's Degree | Hoboken, NJ | $95,706 | Not available | Baseline needed | $41,346 |
| 47 | Iowa State UniversityMaster's Degree | Ames, IA | $95,102 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,589 |
| 48 | University of Massachusetts-LowellMaster's Degree | Lowell, MA | $94,416 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,163 |
| 49 | Milwaukee School of EngineeringMaster's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $94,025 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,453 |
| 50 | Drexel UniversityMaster's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $93,155 | Not available | Baseline needed | $38,509 |
| 51 | Portland State UniversityMaster's Degree | Portland, OR | $93,150 | Not available | Baseline needed | $9,552 |
| 52 | Colorado School of MinesMaster's Degree | Golden, CO | $93,132 | Not available | Baseline needed | $28,690 |
| 53 | Ohio State University-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Columbus, OH | $92,821 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,339 |
| 54 | Missouri University of Science and TechnologyMaster's Degree | Rolla, MO | $92,698 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,298 |
| 55 | University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusMaster's Degree | Norman, OK | $92,506 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,300 |
| 56 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Durham, NH | $92,478 | Not available | Baseline needed | $23,805 |
| 57 | Florida Atlantic UniversityMaster's Degree | Boca Raton, FL | $92,145 | Not available | Baseline needed | $8,752 |
| 58 | Lehigh UniversityMaster's Degree | Bethlehem, PA | $92,139 | Not available | Baseline needed | $36,931 |
| 59 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonMaster's Degree | Madison, WI | $91,867 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,354 |
| 60 | Norwich UniversityMaster's Degree | Northfield, VT | $91,857 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,257 |
| 61 | University of KentuckyMaster's Degree | Lexington, KY | $91,461 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,851 |
| 62 | University of FloridaMaster's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $91,116 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,541 |
| 63 | University at BuffaloMaster's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $90,707 | Not available | Baseline needed | $20,995 |
| 64 | Texas Tech UniversityMaster's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $90,540 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,070 |
| 65 | Utah State UniversityMaster's Degree | Logan, UT | $90,415 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,936 |
| 66 | Cornell UniversityMaster's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $90,197 | Not available | Baseline needed | $28,690 |
| 67 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusMaster's Degree | Denver, CO | $90,072 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,900 |
| 68 | University of IdahoMaster's Degree | Moscow, ID | $89,624 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,831 |
| 69 | Clemson UniversityMaster's Degree | Clemson, SC | $89,331 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,253 |
| 70 | University of North Carolina at CharlotteMaster's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $88,619 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,435 |
| 71 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleMaster's Degree | Knoxville, TN | $88,162 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,976 |
| 72 | Purdue University-Main CampusMaster's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $87,908 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,600 |
| 73 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstMaster's Degree | Amherst, MA | $87,779 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,383 |
| 74 | University of New Mexico-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $87,709 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,489 |
| 75 | University of Illinois ChicagoMaster's Degree | Chicago, IL | $86,593 | Not available | Baseline needed | $10,974 |
| 76 | Michigan Technological UniversityMaster's Degree | Houghton, MI | $86,535 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,182 |
| 77 | University of DelawareMaster's Degree | Newark, DE | $85,704 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,799 |
| 78 | University of South FloridaMaster's Degree | Tampa, FL | $85,380 | Not available | Baseline needed | $9,812 |
| 79 | University of Puerto Rico-MayaguezMaster's Degree | Mayaguez, PR | $83,272 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,936 |
| 80 | South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyMaster's Degree | Rapid City, SD | $83,155 | Not available | Baseline needed | $20,183 |
| 81 | University of LouisvilleMaster's Degree | Louisville, KY | $81,217 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,988 |
| 82 | University of Nevada-RenoMaster's Degree | Reno, NV | $80,151 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,927 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.