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

First, some facts. Of the Civil Engineering graduates from California State University-Sacramento 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 29 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 84%, Civil Engineering graduates from California State University-Sacramento have a much higher likelihood (+17%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 84%
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 10% 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 University-Sacramento and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2010 from California State University-Sacramento with a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Water Resources Engineer
California Department of Water Resources
May 2012 - Present
The position of Water Resources Engineer directly applies the knowledge and skills acquired during a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, as it involves designing and managing water-related projects which are core aspects of the degree.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master's Degree
California State University-Sacramento
2010 - 2014
ABOUT

No information provided.

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

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


Looking at the job profiles of graduates from California State University-Sacramento with degrees in Civil Engineering, a clear trend emerges. Many of these individuals have taken up roles that directly utilize their civil engineering education, such as Civil Engineers, Project Engineers, Transportation Engineers, and Water Resources Engineers. These positions require applying core civil engineering principles and skills on a daily basis, which aligns perfectly with their academic background. It’s great to see that a substantial number of grads are not just filling roles, but are actively working in positions that fully engage their civil engineering knowledge.

However, there are also several instances where graduates ended up in roles that aren’t as directly related to civil engineering. For example, positions like Fleet Manager or various administrative roles don't heavily involve engineering skills. While some graduates found their way into management or logistical roles—often requiring transferable skills—those positions may not leverage the technical expertise that comes with a civil engineering degree. Overall, while a significant portion of these graduates seem to land relevant jobs in the field, there’s definitely a mix of roles that lean more towards management or completely different sectors, showcasing the varied pathways one can take after graduation.

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 University-Sacramento):

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

It looks like graduates from California State University-Sacramento who studied Civil Engineering tend to have pretty solid career paths after they finish school. Many of them start off with jobs that are closely related to their degree, like roles as civil engineers or project managers at various engineering firms and government agencies. For instance, a number of alumni have landed positions at Caltrans, which is a great first job because it’s directly related to civil infrastructure in California. Others have taken on roles in engineering design, project management, and even water resource management, showcasing a diverse range of early opportunities that align with civil engineering.

Fast forward a few years, and it’s clear that many graduates have climbed the career ladder pretty effectively. Several individuals who graduated around 2012 and 2013 have progressed into senior positions, like Senior Civil Engineer and Project Manager, which speaks to the growth potential within the field. While some went off to explore different roles, like teaching or working with the U.S. Navy Reserve, the majority stayed in relevant engineering positions. Overall, it seems that most of these graduates have successfully found careers that utilize their education in Civil Engineering, which is definitely a positive takeaway for anyone considering this path!

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

So, getting a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering at California State University-Sacramento, or really any school, can be pretty challenging. You’re looking at a lot of tough math and science courses, along with hands-on design projects that can get a bit intense. It’s definitely not a walk in the park—there’s a fair amount of problem-solving and critical thinking involved, and if you’re not super keen on subjects like calculus, physics, and materials science, it might feel even tougher. But hey, if you’re into engineering and are willing to put in the effort, it can also be really rewarding! It’s about average difficulty compared to other engineering programs; just be prepared to study a lot and work on group projects.

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 2 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering.

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

Looking at the career paths of these Civil Engineering graduates from California State University-Sacramento, it seems like they’re generally doing pretty well financially! Many of them started in solid entry-level positions and have climbed the ranks to roles like Project Manager, Sr. Civil Engineer, and even Engineering Consultant, which typically pay decent salaries. Plus, jobs at places like Caltrans and the Department of Water Resources are usually stable with good benefits. While it's hard to say exactly how much each person is making without specific numbers, the variety of their roles and the companies they work for suggest they're likely earning above-average salaries, especially considering the growing demand for civil engineers in California.

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 University-Sacramento). 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