What can you do with a Civil Engineering degree from United States Military Academy at West Point?

First, some facts. Of the Civil Engineering graduates from United States Military Academy at West Point 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 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Bad. Overall, with an average relevance score of 43%, Civil Engineering graduates from United States Military Academy at West Point have a substantially lower likelihood (-24%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 43%
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, 60% 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 you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Civil Engineering graduate.

See the details:

View a random Civil Engineering graduate from United States Military Academy at West Point and our analysis:


Relevance score: 50%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2018 from United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Army Officer
US Army
May 2018 - Nov 2023
As an Army Officer, the individual may utilize some skills such as problem-solving and leadership that can be indirectly related to civil engineering, but the core qualifications of the job do not require engineering knowledge or skills on a daily basis.

ABOUT

West Point graduate currently serving as an Executive Officer for the 4th Space Company, 1st Space Battalion located on Fort Carson, Colorado. [NAME REMOVED] currently is responsible for the logistical movement, maintenance, and supply of four Army Space Detachment commands and one headquarters section all located across three countries. After high school, [NAME REMOVED] played three years of junior hockey before accepting an offer to play D1 collegiate hockey at the United States Military Academy, with a commitment to serve in the United States Army thereafter. During his 4.5 year Army career thus far, [NAME REMOVED] has served in a multitude of positions each requiring various and unique skillsets. During his time as a Maintenance Platoon Leader, [NAME REMOVED] managed 10 mechanics responsible for repairing and servicing the 569th Mobility Augmentation Company's vehicles in excess of $40 million. After serving nine months in maintenance, [NAME REMOVED] transferred to the 615th Engineer Construction Company as the Vertical Platoon Leader for a 48 Soldier unit. With double the personnel of a standard Platoon, [NAME REMOVED] learned the importance of balancing Soldier readiness and operational success. In his 12 months in the role, [NAME REMOVED] planned and supervised over 15 construction projects across the Fort Carson footprint to include electrical, plumbing, masonry, and construction all while helping his Soldiers with financial, personal, and development problems. [NAME REMOVED] then served the next 13 months as the Executive Officer for the Battalion's Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) where he learned the logistic, supply, and planning concepts behind running a company. HHC is tasked with supporting the requirements of every company within the battalion, all executing their own and unique mission sets. While in the role, [NAME REMOVED] spent three months in command of the company while at 90% strength, yet still enabling and performing the unit's full mission and purpose. After his role as an Executive Officer, [NAME REMOVED] served as the Construction Officer in Charge, facilitating the logistical, design, and sustainment support of the 4th EN BN. [NAME REMOVED]'s job entailed the support of of three Horizontal Construction Platoons and one Vertical Construction Platoon. [NAME REMOVED] served in this role for 4 months before being selected for the Executive Officer role in Army Space.Outside of work, within two years [NAME REMOVED] has climbed 58/58 14,000 foot mountains within Colorado. [NAME REMOVED] now looks to continue pushing his physical and mental limits through increased distance efforts in running, cycling, mountain biking, ski touring, and mountaineering.

What jobs can you get with a Civil Engineering degree from United States Military Academy at West Point?

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


From my analysis of LinkedIn profiles, it seems that a lot of people who graduated with a Civil Engineering degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point have taken on roles within the US Army and its various engineering divisions. Common positions include Company Commanders, Engineer Platoon Leaders, and roles with the US Army Corps of Engineers, where the need for civil engineering skills is evident. These roles typically involve managing engineering projects and utilizing technical skills in real-world applications. For example, being a Project Engineer or a Construction Officer requires direct knowledge of civil engineering principles, which makes those jobs highly relevant to their degrees.

However, not all roles are closely tied to civil engineering. Some graduates have taken positions like Executive Officers or other leadership roles that focus more on logistics, operations, and management—areas that don't require the technical civil engineering knowledge they acquired during their studies. In fact, many positions even seemed to lean more towards military leadership or other specialized fields that divert from engineering altogether. Overall, while many jobs are directly relevant and connected to civil engineering, several roles reflect a more generalized military leadership trajectory, highlighting that a Civil Engineering degree can lead to diverse career paths, not strictly confined to the engineering field.

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 United States Military Academy at West Point):

What kind of career trajectories do Civil Engineering graduates from United States Military Academy at West Point have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

If you look at the career trajectories of graduates from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a degree in Civil Engineering, it's pretty clear that many of them go on to have strong careers, particularly in military and engineering roles. Right after graduating, a lot of them start off in project management or leadership positions within the Army, like being an Engineer Platoon Leader or a Project Engineer with the Army Corps of Engineers. These early roles typically involve hands-on experience managing construction projects or leading teams, which makes sense given their engineering background. So, straight out of college, they seem to be setting themselves up for success in relevant fields.

Fast forward five to ten years later, and many of these graduates have continued climbing the ranks within the military or have moved into similar roles in civil engineering and project management. They often become company commanders, chief operations officers, or even instructors, which showcases their leadership skills and expertise. While some might branch off into different areas, like disaster response or business operations, the majority remain connected to civil engineering or military operations. Overall, it looks like these West Point graduates tend to have fulfilling and relevant careers that utilize their engineering degrees well, so that's definitely a good sign if you're considering this path!

How hard is a Civil Engineering degree from United States Military Academy at West Point?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering at West Point is definitely on the challenging side, even by engineering standards. The curriculum is rigorous, combining tough technical courses like structural analysis and fluid mechanics with the unique demands of military training. You’ll be tackling a lot of complex problem-solving, and the workload can be intense, especially since it’s not just about hitting the books—you also have to balance physical training and leadership assignments. So, if you're up for a challenge and really committed, it can be a rewarding experience, but it's definitely not an easy path!

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 United States Military Academy at West Point tend to make good money?

Alright, so looking at these profiles, it seems like most of these West Point grads are on a pretty solid financial path. They mostly started off in military roles, which typically offer decent salaries and benefits, especially as they climb the ranks. Many of them have moved into engineering and project management positions, which usually pay well in the civilian sector, too. Plus, the experience and leadership skills they gain in the army can make them attractive hires for top companies down the line. So yeah, it looks like they're likely making decent money compared to a lot of people right out of college.

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 United States Military Academy at West Point). 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