U.S. median for this major: $85,097.
College Scorecard field of study; 111 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 27% 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 $28,679. College Scorecard.
University of Wisconsin-Madison 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 Wisconsin-Madison'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 | $4,200 | $17,640 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $4,101 | $17,224 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $8,134 | $34,163 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $17,763 | $74,605 | 1.5 years |
| $110k+ | $27,292 | $114,626 | 2.3 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (73% 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 ($87,691) minus $37,564 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $50,127 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 Wisconsin colleges
Every Wisconsin 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 | Milwaukee School of Engineering | $92,809 | — | $22,453 | 67% |
| 2 | Marquette University | $88,144 | $27,000 | $31,487 | 83% |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | $87,691 | $23,250 | $17,354 | 90% |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville | $81,976 | $23,522 | $16,032 | 56% |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | $77,958 | $28,000 | $15,014 | 49% |
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 Wisconsin-Madison, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Acceptance rate: 45% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 90% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $73,792
- Full cost breakdown · all 99 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Electrical Engineering$95,059
- Mechanical Engineering$95,114
- Industrial Engineering$110,711
University of Wisconsin-Madison Civil Engineering questions
How much do University of Wisconsin-Madison Civil Engineering graduates earn?
Civil Engineering graduates of University of Wisconsin-Madison earn a median $87,691 four years after graduating and $71,246 one year after. The U.S. median for Civil Engineering graduates across 233 colleges is $85,097.
How much debt do University of Wisconsin-Madison Civil Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Civil Engineering graduates of University of Wisconsin-Madison is $23,250, about 27% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,708.
Is University of Wisconsin-Madison a good school for Civil Engineering in Wisconsin?
On pay, Civil Engineering graduates of University of Wisconsin-Madison earn $87,691 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 5 Wisconsin colleges ($87,691) and $2,594 above the U.S. median ($85,097). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of Wisconsin-Madison rank for Civil Engineering in Wisconsin?
Of 5 Wisconsin colleges reporting Civil Engineering graduate earnings, University of Wisconsin-Madison ranks 3rd. The highest is Milwaukee School of Engineering at $92,809.
What jobs do Civil Engineering graduates get?
A common career is civil engineer, with a median wage of $99,010 in the Madison, WI area and $100,840 nationally. Others include architectural and engineering managers and environmental engineers.
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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 Wisconsin-Madison Civil Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-wisconsin-madison/majors/civil-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).