U.S. median for this major: $85,097.
College Scorecard field of study; 79 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 32% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $24,708.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $31,638. College Scorecard.
University of South Carolina-Columbia Civil Engineering: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Civil Engineering nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses University of South Carolina-Columbia's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $12,634 | $52,178 | 1.0 years |
| $30–48k | $14,953 | $61,756 | 1.2 years |
| $48–75k | $19,859 | $82,018 | 1.6 years |
| $75–110k | $24,478 | $101,094 | 2.0 years |
| $110k+ | $28,125 | $116,156 | 2.3 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (69% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Civil Engineering graduates 4 years after graduating ($84,148) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $50,632 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Civil Engineering at South Carolina colleges
Every South Carolina college we cover that reports Civil Engineering graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clemson University | $84,873 | $25,750 | $22,253 | 87% |
| 2 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | $84,148 | $27,000 | $22,811 | 79% |
| 3 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina | $81,055 | $24,500 | $20,723 | 75% |
2 more South Carolina colleges offer Civil Engineering but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Civil Engineering graduates
Civil engineer
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Environmental Engineers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.3% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at University of South Carolina-Columbia, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of South Carolina-Columbia
- Acceptance rate: 60% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 79% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $62,177
- Full cost breakdown · all 77 majors · overview
Related majors at University of South Carolina-Columbia
- Electrical Engineering$100,042
- Mechanical Engineering$91,296
University of South Carolina-Columbia Civil Engineering questions
How much do University of South Carolina-Columbia Civil Engineering graduates earn?
Civil Engineering graduates of University of South Carolina-Columbia earn a median $84,148 four years after graduating and $69,424 one year after. The U.S. median for Civil Engineering graduates across 233 colleges is $85,097.
How much debt do University of South Carolina-Columbia Civil Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Civil Engineering graduates of University of South Carolina-Columbia is $27,000, about 32% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,708.
Is University of South Carolina-Columbia a good school for Civil Engineering in South Carolina?
On pay, Civil Engineering graduates of University of South Carolina-Columbia earn $84,148 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 3 South Carolina colleges ($84,148) and $949 below the U.S. median ($85,097). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of South Carolina-Columbia rank for Civil Engineering in South Carolina?
Of 3 South Carolina colleges reporting Civil Engineering graduate earnings, University of South Carolina-Columbia ranks 2nd. The highest is Clemson University at $84,873.
What jobs do Civil Engineering graduates get?
A common career is civil engineer, with a median wage of $94,520 in the Columbia, SC area and $100,840 nationally. Others include architectural and engineering managers and environmental engineers.
Is University of South Carolina-Columbia the right fit for your family?
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “University of South Carolina-Columbia Civil Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-south-carolina-columbia/majors/civil-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).