What can you do with a Civil Engineering degree from Texas Tech University?

First, some facts. Of the Civil Engineering graduates from Texas Tech 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 12 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 85%, Civil Engineering graduates from Texas Tech University have a much higher likelihood (+18%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 85%
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 25% 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 Texas Tech University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 84%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2012 from Texas Tech University with a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Student Research Assistant Testing SCALP-04 Functionality
Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Transportation (TechMRT) at Texas Tech University
Mar 2012 - Jun 2012
The role of Student Research Assistant testing SCALP-04 functionality directly relates to civil engineering principles and research skills acquired during the Bachelor's program.

Student Research Assistant working on Culvert Rating Guide- TXDOT Project
Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Transportation (TechMRT) at Texas Tech University
Jun 2012 - Dec 2012
As a Student Research Assistant working on the Culvert Rating Guide, the job requires specific knowledge of civil engineering concepts and practices, making it highly relevant.

Graduate Research Assistant working on TXDOT's Culvert Load Rating Project
Window Glass Research Lab Texas Tech University
Aug 2014 - Aug 2016
The position of Graduate Research Assistant on TXDOT's Culvert Load Rating Project involves direct application of civil engineering principles, making it very relevant to the individuals educational background.

Graduate Researcher working on Architectural Glass
Window Glass Research Lab Texas Tech University
Jan 2013 - May 2017
The Graduate Researcher role working on Architectural Glass may utilize some civil engineering knowledge, but it is primarily focused on materials that may not directly apply to general civil engineering practices.

Building Envelope Consultant
Gilsanz Murray Steficek
Jul 2017 - Present
As a Building Envelope Consultant, this role utilizes civil engineering expertise and requires knowledge directly applicable to the field, making it highly relevant.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Science - MS
Texas Tech University - Edward E. Whitacre, Jr. College of Engineering
2013 - 2014

Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
Texas Tech University - Edward E. Whitacre, Jr. College of Engineering
2014 - 2017
ABOUT

I am a dedicated and highly motivated individual looking for an opportunity to develop my engineering skill set.

What jobs can you get with a Civil Engineering degree from Texas Tech University?

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


Looking at the career paths of folks from Texas Tech University who studied Civil Engineering, a lot of them have ended up in jobs that are pretty closely tied to their degree. Common roles include various positions within the Texas Department of Transportation, like Engineering Assistants and Project Managers, which definitely keep them in the engineering loop, focusing on infrastructure and construction projects. We also see several graduates landing roles as Civil Engineers, Design Engineers, and Project Field Engineers, where they apply their knowledge daily to real-world projects. These positions really utilize the skills and concepts they learned in school, making them directly relevant to their studies.

However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. There are a fair number of graduates who veered off into roles that aren't really aligned with Civil Engineering. Jobs like Graphic Design Analyst or Car Salesman do not tap into the technical skills acquired in their degree, which is a bit surprising considering how much effort goes into studying Civil Engineering. Overall, while many graduates have found solid career paths that relate directly to their education, some have ended up in completely different fields, which means not every job is a perfect match for their degree. It’s a mixed bag, but many are in positions that genuinely reflect the expertise they've developed 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 Texas Tech University):

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

From what I can see, graduates from Texas Tech University's Civil Engineering program seem to generally head into promising careers right after they finish school. Many of them take on internships, which is a smart move—it helps them get their foot in the door and gain some hands-on experience. Those who graduated around 2012 seem to land a mix of roles ranging from project management to engineering positions. Fast forward about five years, and you can see that most of them have settled into solid engineering jobs, often with organizations like the Texas Department of Transportation or even the US Army Corps of Engineers. So, the initial internships typically lead to relevant positions that keep them in the Civil Engineering field. That’s a great sign for anyone considering this major!

However, not everyone’s trajectory looks the same. Some folks, especially those who graduated a bit later, seem to have taken detours from traditional civil engineering roles. For instance, one 2017 graduate started as a car salesman and later shifted to recruiting, which might not feel very connected to their degree. But overall, many of the 2018 and 2019 grads appear to be moving up in their engineering careers, taking on roles like bridge engineering and design engineering that directly apply what they learned in school. In the long run, if you're eyeing a civil engineering degree from Texas Tech, it looks like there's a solid pathway to building a successful career in the field, though it'll be important to stay focused and take advantage of those early opportunities!

How hard is a Civil Engineering degree from Texas Tech University?

Getting a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering is generally considered pretty challenging, and Texas Tech University is no exception. There's a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to math and science—think calculus, physics, and materials science—so if those subjects aren't your jam, you might find it tougher. Projects can be intense, too; expect a mix of teamwork, late nights, and some head-scratching problem-solving. That said, if you’re passionate about the field and ready to put in the effort, you'll find a supportive community and resources to help you along the way. Overall, it's a demanding degree, but it can also be super rewarding if you stick with it!

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 Texas Tech University tend to make good money?

It looks like some of these Texas Tech grads have been doing pretty well in their early careers while others seem to be still finding their footing. The ones who jumped into positions like Project Manager, Building Envelope Consultant, and roles with the Texas Department of Transportation are likely making decent money, especially compared to entry-level jobs. However, those with a less direct engineering focus or who have spent years in internships and support roles might not be raking in quite as much yet. Overall, though, civil engineering jobs typically offer good pay, so it wouldn’t be a stretch to say these folks are on a pretty solid financial path!

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 Texas Tech 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