What can you do with a Civil Engineering degree from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?

First, some facts. Of the Civil Engineering graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 36 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Great! Overall, with an average relevance score of 92%, Civil Engineering graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona have a substantially higher likelihood (+25%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 92%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 16% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Civil Engineering graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Civil Engineering graduate from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2021 from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Engineering Intern
X Engineering & Consulting, Inc.
Aug 2021 - Nov 2021
The Engineering Intern position directly utilizes core civil engineering skills and knowledge gained from the Bachelor's degree, making it highly relevant.

Associate Engineer
X Engineering & Consulting, Inc.
Nov 2021 - Dec 2023
The Associate Engineer role requires the application of civil engineering principles and practices, which are fundamental to the Bachelor's degree.

Staff Engineer
X Engineering & Consulting, Inc.
Jan 2024 - Present
The Staff Engineer position involves advanced civil engineering tasks and responsibilities, clearly aligning with the skills and knowledge obtained through the Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Civil Engineering degree from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When looking at the career paths of graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona who studied Civil Engineering, it’s clear that a significant number of them have pursued roles closely connected to their degree. The most common job titles among these graduates include Project Engineer, Civil Engineer, and various positions with "Associate" in the title, like Civil Engineering Associate. These roles fundamentally require the application of civil engineering principles, which the graduates learned in their programs. In fact, many individuals have reported consistently leveraging the knowledge they gained in civil engineering coursework, directly aligning their day-to-day work with the skills they acquired during their studies.

However, not all roles seem to be equally relevant to the degree. Some positions, such as Draftsman or Production Engineer, may involve skills that overlap with civil engineering but don’t fully utilize the depth of knowledge expected from a civil engineering graduate. Others, like certain engineering technician roles, while related, might not engage the core aspects of civil engineering consistently. Despite this, the overarching trend shows that many graduates are taking on responsibilities that are highly pertinent to civil engineering, indicating that their education is largely serving them well in their careers.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Civil Engineering graduates (this is across all Civil Engineering graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to California State Polytechnic University-Pomona):

What kind of career trajectories do Civil Engineering graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona who studied Civil Engineering generally find themselves on solid career paths. For many, the first job after graduation often involves roles like Project Engineer or Junior Engineer, which are great entry points in the field. It’s common to see graduates taking positions in local government, engineering firms, or construction companies, working closely on projects that build infrastructure, manage water resources, or improve transportation systems. The early years typically involve building expertise and taking on more responsibilities, leading to roles like Project Manager or Senior Engineer within a few years.

As these graduates advance in their careers, many shift into senior positions such as Senior Project Manager or Engineering Associate at larger organizations or government agencies. After about 5 to 10 years, they often hold significant roles in public works, transportation, or consulting firms, with some moving up to high-level positions like City Engineer or Capital Improvement Program Manager. Overall, it looks like graduates are making good use of their degrees, sticking to civil engineering-related careers and contributing to impactful projects in their communities. Their trajectories indicate a healthy job market for civil engineers, especially since many have moved into leadership and specialized roles over time.

How hard is a Civil Engineering degree from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, or anywhere really, is generally pretty challenging. You’ll dive into some tough subjects like calculus, physics, and various engineering courses that require a solid grasp of math and critical thinking skills. The program has a hands-on approach, which is awesome because you get to do labs and projects, but that also means a lot of time and effort outside of class. While some students find it manageable if they stay organized and keep up with their studies, others might feel a bit overwhelmed, especially with the workload and the complexity of the material. So, while it’s not impossible, expect to put in some serious work if you’re aiming to succeed!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering.

Do Civil Engineering graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona tend to make good money?

Looking at the career paths of these Civil Engineering grads from Cal Poly Pomona, it seems like most of them have landed decent jobs and are making a good living, especially considering the various roles they've moved into over time. Those who graduated back in 2011 and 2013 have steadily climbed the ladder to higher positions like Project Manager and Senior Project Engineer, which usually come with nice salaries. Even the newer graduates are starting off strong with internships leading to full-time roles that should pay off as they gain experience. Overall, it looks like a solid investment in their education, and they seem to be doing pretty well financially in their early careers!

What buzzwords do Civil Engineering graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering (this is across all Civil Engineering graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to California State Polytechnic University-Pomona). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Civil Engineering?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering (ordered by the average relevance score of their Civil Engineering graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
California State University, Long Beach 100 10
California State University-Long Beach 97 11
University of Missouri-Columbia 96 13
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 96 14
San Jose State University 95 11
University of Arkansas 95 10
Michigan State University 94 10
Northeastern University 94 15
University of Utah 93 11
University of Wisconsin-Platteville 93 11
University of Washington 92 16
Brigham Young University 92 18
Iowa State University 92 18
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 92 28
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 92 36
Oregon State University 92 13
University of Massachusetts Amherst 92 12
University of Nevada, Reno 92 13
Missouri University of Science and Technology 92 11
University of Central Florida 91 15
Manhattan College 91 18
Clarkson University 91 11
Florida International University 90 10
University of Wisconsin-Madison 90 16
The University of Texas at El Paso 90 10
Michigan Technological University 90 10
University of California, Davis 89 21
University of Delaware 89 16
Rowan University 89 10
San Diego State University 88 13
Arizona State University 87 16
University of South Florida 87 10
Auburn University 87 17
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 87 10
University of South Alabama 87 10
Virginia Tech 86 13
New Jersey Institute of Technology 86 31
Texas A&M University 85 38
Florida State University 85 15
North Carolina State University 85 20
Texas Tech University 85 12
Wentworth Institute of Technology 85 10
The Ohio State University 84 19
California State University-Sacramento 84 29
University of Florida 83 17
Louisiana State University 83 25
University of Kentucky 83 10
Penn State University 82 32
The University of Texas at Arlington 82 15
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 81 15
West Virginia University 81 10
University of Maine 81 11
Colorado State University 79 19
Washington State University 79 16
North Dakota State University 79 10
The University of Texas at Austin 77 17
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 77 10
Georgia Institute of Technology 77 17
Mississippi State University 76 16
Clemson University 74 20
University of Colorado Boulder 72 11
Worcester Polytechnic Institute 70 11
Purdue University 69 22
United States Military Academy at West Point 43 10