What can you do with a Civil Engineering degree from Oregon State University?

First, some facts. Of the Civil Engineering graduates from Oregon 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 13 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Great! Overall, with an average relevance score of 92%, Civil Engineering graduates from Oregon State University 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 7% 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 Oregon State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 99%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2013 from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Civil Engineering. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Graduate Research Assistant
Oregon State University
Jun 2013 - Sep 2015
The role of Graduate Research Assistant at Oregon State University directly applies civil engineering principles and knowledge through research-related tasks essential to the field.

Internship
DKS Associates
Sep 2015 - Oct 2015
The internship at DKS Associates likely involved some civil engineering concepts but may have been more focused on practical application rather than core qualifications of civil engineering itself.

Transportation Engineer Associate
DKS Associates
Oct 2015 - Present
As a Transportation Engineer Associate at DKS Associates, the role requires the application of civil engineering knowledge and skills on a daily basis, making it directly relevant to the Bachelors degree.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master's Degree
Oregon State University
2013 - 2015
ABOUT

My objective is to apply the skills I've learned to a future career in Transportation. I would like to make a change in transportation policies and infrastructural design that make transportation safe for all users, reliable as a system, sustainable for the environment, and available to all users who require services. I completed my understand and graduate studies at Oregon State University where several regional research projects that I worked on include future demand patterns, bicycle crash and level of stress relationships, and various other planning subjects. I am currently a transportation engineer associate at DKS Associates where the projects that I have worked on include the US 20 Safety Study, the OR 22 Facility Study, and various design projects in the Salem and Wilsonville Oregon areas.

What jobs can you get with a Civil Engineering degree from Oregon State University?

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 Oregon State University graduates with a degree in Civil Engineering, there are a few common jobs that pop up quite frequently. The most popular roles seem to be Project Engineer, Civil Engineer, and various positions within engineering firms, ranging from Engineering Specialists to Project Managers. These roles generally align well with the skills and knowledge that the graduates gained during their studies, particularly in areas like design, construction, and project management. It's clear that many graduates found positions where they can apply their technical know-how and work on real-world infrastructure and engineering projects.

However, not all jobs listed are 100% focused on civil engineering. While a lot of graduates are definitely in roles that make good use of their degree, some also took on positions like Assistant Manager or Estimator, which may utilize some engineering principles but are not solely rooted in civil engineering. This shows that while many grads are directly involved in civil engineering-related tasks, some have branched out into roles that, while still valuable, don't fully leverage their engineering background. Overall, it looks like a solid number of Oregon State civil engineering grads are able to find relevant positions, but there's a fair mix of how closely those jobs connect to their specific education in civil engineering.

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 Oregon State University):

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

When graduates from Oregon State University's Civil Engineering program start their careers, they often find themselves taking on roles directly related to engineering and construction. Many of the first jobs post-graduation include positions like project engineers, apprentices, or assistants in various construction and engineering firms. Over time, it’s clear that they're not just stagnant in entry-level positions; as they gather experience, they often move up the ladder to project managers, senior engineers, and even directors in their respective companies. For instance, several alumni who graduated in 2012 climbed their way from project engineers to director roles within a span of just a few years.

Fast-forward five to ten years into their careers, and the trend continues in a positive direction. Graduates from earlier years display a pattern of steady advancement, often moving into managerial or specialized roles, such as civil engineer III or construction project managers. It's impressive to see many of them staying within the civil engineering field, indicating a strong connection to their degree and a positive economic landscape for engineering roles. Even those with slightly different initial positions, like project coordinators or estimators, seem to pivot back into engineering where their roots lie. Overall, it looks like Oregon State grads are generally thriving in careers related to civil engineering and construction, making solid progress over time in their professional journeys.

How hard is a Civil Engineering degree from Oregon State University?

Honestly, getting a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering is no walk in the park, and at Oregon State University, it’s pretty much on par with what you'd expect from other strong engineering programs. You’re gonna dive into some tough math and science courses, like calculus, physics, and materials science, which can be a real challenge if math isn't your strong suit. The workload can be heavy, with lots of projects, labs, and sometimes intensive group work that tests not just your knowledge but also your time management. That said, if you’re passionate about the field and are willing to put in the time and effort, it can definitely be a rewarding experience, just keep in mind that it's definitely not the easiest degree out there!

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 Oregon State University tend to make good money?

Looking at the career paths of these Oregon State University Civil Engineering grads, it seems like they've generally landed on their feet financially, especially as they progress in their careers. Those who graduated earlier, like in 2011 and 2012, started in roles like carpentry and project engineering, which can be decent starting salaries, but they’ve moved up to higher-paying positions with more responsibilities over time, like project managers and directors. The more recent grads from 2022 still seem to be in the early stages but are starting off in solid engineering roles, which usually pay pretty well right from the get-go. Overall, if they keep climbing the ladder, they're likely to be doing pretty well for themselves!

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 Oregon State University). 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