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

First, some facts. Of the Civil Engineering graduates from San Diego 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 88%, Civil Engineering graduates from San Diego State University have a substantially higher likelihood (+21%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 88%
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 15% 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 San Diego State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2012 from San Diego State University with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Project Engineer
Competitive Edge Construction
Apr 2013 - Sep 2017
The position of Project Engineer at Competitive Edge Construction directly utilizes civil engineering principles and technical skills, making it highly relevant to the Bachelor's degree.

Engineer
City of San Diego
Dec 2017 - Sep 2018
As an Engineer at the City of San Diego, the role requires knowledge of civil engineering standards and practices that are core to the Bachelor's degree.

Engineer
City of San Diego
Sep 2018 - Sep 2019
In this second Engineer position at the City of San Diego, the job continues to leverage essential civil engineering skills and knowledge, affirming its relevance.

Engineer / Project Manager
Loudoun County Government
Apr 2020 - Jul 2021
The role of Engineer/Project Manager at Loudoun County Government necessitates civil engineering expertise and project management skills developed through the Bachelor's program.

Engineer / Project Manager
Loudoun County Government
Jul 2021 - Feb 2023
This position as Engineer/Project Manager at Loudoun County Government continues to directly apply civil engineering concepts and management practices relevant to the degree.

Transportation Engineer (Civil)
Caltrans
Sep 2023 - Jan 2024
As a Transportation Engineer (Civil) at Caltrans, the job entails direct application of civil engineering knowledge and principles, making it highly relevant to the Bachelor's degree.

ABOUT

No information provided.

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

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


From the analysis of LinkedIn profiles of graduates with a Civil Engineering degree from San Diego State University, it’s clear that most of them have landed jobs that are closely related to their field of study. A significant number have taken on positions like Project Engineer, Engineer at governmental organizations like the City of San Diego, and various engineering roles at consulting firms. These positions typically require the application of core civil engineering principles, such as understanding structural, transportation, or materials engineering, which align well with their academic background. Thus, many of these graduates have been able to find work that utilizes the skills and knowledge they gained during their studies.

However, it's also evident that not all career paths are directly relevant. Some graduates have ventured into positions like marketing, real estate, and even recruiting, which don’t fully leverage their civil engineering education. While skills such as project management and technical knowledge can occasionally overlap with engineering principles, these roles are generally not aligned with the core competencies of a Civil Engineering degree. Overall, while a good portion of graduates are applying their credentials directly in the engineering field, there are some who have diversified into unrelated areas, which can dilute the direct relevance of their education. So, while many are succeeding in civil engineering-related roles, there are definitely mixed outcomes depending on the individual choices following 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 San Diego State University):

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

Looking at the career trajectories of graduates from San Diego State University with a degree in Civil Engineering, it seems like many of them start off strong, landing jobs that are quite relevant to their field soon after graduation. For their first jobs, a lot of them take on roles like Engineer or Project Engineer, often moving into positions at engineering firms or city government roles not long after they graduate. It shows that there are solid entry-level opportunities out there for these graduates, allowing them to dive right into the civil engineering world and build their experience.

As they progress five to ten years down the line, many of these graduates continue to advance within the civil engineering realm. Some transition into project management roles or specialized engineering positions, such as transportation engineer or materials engineer, while others explore different paths, like real estate sales or marketing. Overall, the outlook for SDSU's engineering grads seems pretty positive, with the majority staying within the engineering sphere and building up their careers. It’s a great sign for anyone considering a degree in civil engineering—there's a good chance you'll find a career that aligns with your studies and interests!

How hard is a Civil Engineering degree from San Diego State University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering at San Diego State University is definitely on the challenging side, kind of like a rollercoaster ride that has its ups and downs. You’re going to dive into some complex math, physics, and engineering principles, which can be pretty tough, especially if you’re not super into those subjects. The workload can be heavy too, with lots of projects, lab work, and group assignments that require collaboration. But hey, if you’re curious, motivated, and willing to put in the effort, it can also be really rewarding! Just think of it as a rigorous program that pushes you but also helps you build a solid foundation in engineering. So, get ready to roll up your sleeves and embrace the challenge!

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 San Diego State University tend to make good money?

So, looking at this group of San Diego State University Civil Engineering graduates, it seems like they’ve generally landed pretty solid jobs with decent earning potential over time. The ones who graduated a while back, like the 2010 grad at City of San Diego and the 2014 grad who’s now a Project Manager, likely earn good salaries since government and managerial roles tend to pay well in engineering. Even the newer grads starting out, like the ones from 2021 and 2023, seem to be getting good footing with roles like Associate Engineers and Junior Civil Engineers, which are entry points to higher-paying positions as they gain experience. Overall, they’re on a pretty good path to make decent money in a field that usually rewards technical skills and expertise well.

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 San Diego 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