What can you do with a Civil Engineering degree from University of Colorado Boulder?

First, some facts. Of the Civil Engineering graduates from University of Colorado Boulder 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 11 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 72%, Civil Engineering graduates from University of Colorado Boulder have a slightly higher likelihood (+5%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 72%
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, 45% 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 University of Colorado Boulder and our analysis:


Relevance score: 69%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2010 from University of Colorado Boulder with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Civil Engineering. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Project Engineer
Kimley-Horn
Jul 2015 - Jan 2019
As a Project Engineer, this position directly utilizes the civil engineering knowledge and skills acquired during the Bachelor's degree, requiring specific engineering expertise on a daily basis.

Traffic Manager
City of Aurora
Jan 2019 - Present
The role of Traffic Manager may involve some understanding of civil engineering principles, particularly in traffic flow and infrastructure planning, but it does not primarily require the core qualifications of civil engineering on a daily basis.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Science (MS)
University of Colorado Denver
2012 - 2014
ABOUT

I have experience in traffic operations, traffic signal timing, traffic simulation, safety assessments, roadway design, and traffic engineering design. My recent experience includes preparing traffic signal timing and progression plans for CDOT and several municipalities, as well as signing and striping plans for CDOT. I also support the Traffic Engineering Group with development of traffic signal plans and construction phasing and traffic control plans. I bring real life experience to my design work with my construction observation experience for CDOT projects. My construction experience includes signing, striping, and the implementation of an adaptive signal timing system in northern Colorado. I also have roadway design experience including developing preliminary and final plans for an urban arterial intersection widening project. Prior to receiving my degree, I worked at Muller as an intern supporting traffic engineers in the areas of field data collection, field verification of signal timing plans and setting up spreadsheets and computer files for SYNCHRO analysis of traffic signal progressions.

What jobs can you get with a Civil Engineering degree from University of Colorado Boulder?

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 graduates from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in Civil Engineering, a few common job titles pop up. A significant number of them have straight-up engineering roles, like Bridge Engineer, Project Engineer, and Structural Engineer. These jobs are super relevant to civil engineering since they directly involve applying the principles and techniques learned during their studies. For example, working as a Bridge Engineer requires a good grasp of design, construction, and safety standards that are crucial in the field. It's clear that many engineers stay close to their roots and focus on areas like structural design, construction management, or project oversight, which makes sense given their training.

However, not everyone sticks strictly to civil engineering roles. Some graduates have ventured into jobs that don't really tap into their engineering skills, like project management or even teaching math. While project management can overlap with engineering, roles like being a Math Teacher or a Finance Manager don't really utilize the technical aspects of civil engineering. In total, while many graduates find positions closely tied to their degree, there’s a noticeable portion that ends up in unrelated fields, indicating a mixed bag of career paths. So, if you're thinking about studying civil engineering, it's good to know that while the skills you gain are very useful, there’s always the possibility of branching out into different areas of interest as well.

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 University of Colorado Boulder):

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

Graduates from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in Civil Engineering have generally taken on solid career paths that keep them connected to their field. Right after graduation, many of them land roles like engineering interns, project engineers, or field engineers, which are excellent entry-level positions to gain practical experience. For example, a few graduates started as engineering interns before swiftly moving up to roles like project managers or structural engineers within a few years. It seems like most of them are getting jobs that resonate with their civil engineering background, indicating that the degree is opening doors in relevant industries.

Fast forward five to ten years, we see a good number of these individuals progressing into management roles or specialized positions. Some even become owners of their own engineering or consulting firms, showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit among them. However, it's worth noting that there are a few instances where graduates have veered off into unrelated fields, like teaching and finance, which might suggest a lack of opportunity in their initial jobs or a change in career interests. Overall, though, many graduates appear to be thriving in civil engineering-related roles, making meaningful contributions to infrastructure projects, and advancing in their careers over time.

How hard is a Civil Engineering degree from University of Colorado Boulder?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, like the one at the University of Colorado Boulder, is usually on the tougher side compared to many other majors. You'll be dealing with a lot of complex math, physics, and engineering principles, and the coursework can get pretty intense, especially when you dive into design projects and labs. That said, if you’re passionate about engineering and willing to put in the effort, it can be really rewarding and is definitely manageable. Just be prepared to spend some late nights studying and working on group projects, and don’t hesitate to seek help if you need it, because it’s all part of the learning process!

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 University of Colorado Boulder tend to make good money?

So, looking at these graduates from the University of Colorado Boulder, it seems like they've got a pretty solid start in their careers, especially if we're talking money. Most of them landed jobs straight after graduation, and many climbed the ladder quickly — like that one guy who went from a bridge engineer to a finance manager. Even those who switched fields, like the maths teacher, probably still have decent pay because they have engineering backgrounds. Overall, it looks like they’re doing pretty well for themselves, with opportunities to earn good salaries in various roles, especially as they gain more experience. So yeah, it seems like a good investment in their education has paid off, at least financially!

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 University of Colorado Boulder). 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