Degrees
Colleges
About
First, some facts. Of the Civil Engineering graduates from Iowa State University 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 18 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Great! Overall, with an average relevance score of 92%, Civil Engineering graduates from Iowa State University have a substantially higher likelihood (+25%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, only 27% 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:
|
Relevance score: 100% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.
DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2010 from Iowa State University with a Bachelor in Civil Engineering. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONResearch Assistant in Geotechnical Engineering Iowa State University Jan 2011 - Present FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATINGMaster's DegreeIowa State University 2010 - 2013 ABOUTNo information provided. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
When checking out the career paths of Civil Engineering graduates from Iowa State University, it’s pretty clear that a lot of them are diving right into roles that are highly relevant to their degree. You’ll find a ton of Civil Engineers working in positions like Engineering Interns, Project Engineers, and various specialized roles, such as Water Resources Engineers and Structural Engineers. Many of these jobs require them to apply the principles and skills they learned in school on a daily basis, whether they’re involved in designing structures, overseeing construction projects, or managing teams—all of which showcase their civil engineering expertise.
However, not every job these graduates land is strictly tied to civil engineering. For instance, some have ventured into roles like Property Managers or Executive Directors, where the connection to civil engineering is a lot weaker. In general, it seems that most of the positions listed are indeed relevant, but there are a few outliers that focus more on management or administrative tasks rather than hands-on engineering work. Overall, if these grads are pursuing jobs in engineering firms or municipalities, they're likely putting their Civil Engineering degrees to good use!
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 Iowa State University):
Looking at the career trajectories of graduates from Iowa State University's Civil Engineering program, it's pretty clear that many of these individuals kick off their careers with internships and entry-level positions in civil or structural engineering. For instance, graduates from 2010 to 2018 often started as engineering interns or in entry-level roles and have steadily moved up into more responsible positions like Project Engineers, Civil Engineers, and even managerial roles like Principals and Presidents at engineering firms. It seems like the foundation built during their studies and those initial experiences led them to stable and relevant careers in urban planning, water resources, construction, and structural engineering.
Fast forward a few years, and many of these alumni are not just surviving; they’re thriving! By the five to ten-year mark, numerous graduates have advanced to senior roles, such as Senior Engineers or Project Managers, at reputable companies, while some have taken the plunge into entrepreneurship or leadership positions within their own firms. For example, one of the graduates who started off as a Civil Engineer Intern is now the President of a firm! So, it looks like if you put in the work, the opportunities in the field of civil engineering are solid and can lead to fruitful careers. Overall, these graduates seem to be carving out successful paths that stay true to their degrees in Civil Engineering, which is really encouraging!
Honestly, a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, whether at Iowa State University or pretty much anywhere else, is no walk in the park. You’re looking at a lot of heavy math, physics, and engineering principles that can be pretty challenging, especially if you're not super into those subjects already. There are tough courses like statics, dynamics, fluid mechanics, and structural analysis that will definitely push you to your limits. On the plus side, if you like problem-solving and working on real-world projects, it can be really rewarding. But just be prepared to put in the hours and hard work—it's generally considered harder than the average degree, for sure!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering.
Looking at the career paths of these Iowa State University Civil Engineering grads, it seems like they've generally been doing pretty well, especially those who graduated earlier. The 2010 graduates, for instance, have climbed the ranks to senior and even executive positions, which typically come with decent salaries. Then there's that one who went from intern to president of ISG—definitely signs of making good money! The more recent graduates are still finding their footing, but even those in entry-level roles can land good salaries in civil engineering, especially with their internships under their belts. So yeah, overall, it seems like these folks are making a solid income, especially compared to many other fields.
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 Iowa State University). This may or may not be useful:
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:
