What can you do with a Civil Engineering degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

First, some facts. Of the Civil Engineering graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 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 15 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 81%, Civil Engineering graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have a much higher likelihood (+14%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 81%
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, 40% 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 Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2021 from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Career Start
Suffolk Construction
Feb 2021 - Sep 2023
Starting a career at Suffolk Construction is directly relevant to a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering, as it likely involves practical applications of engineering principles and construction management.

Assistant Project Manager
Related Group
Sep 2023 - Present
As an Assistant Project Manager at Related Group, this position utilizes civil engineering knowledge and skills extensively in project planning and execution, making it highly relevant to the degree.

ABOUT

Civil Engineer from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.In addition to the fields of Civil Engineering, interested in finance, politics, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and philosophy. Bilingual, with solid communication skills and a will to thrive. Suffok San Francisco Field Operations.

What jobs can you get with a Civil Engineering degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

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 with a Civil Engineering degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a lot of them end up in roles that are pretty closely tied to engineering, especially in construction and project management. Common positions include Project Engineers and Construction Representatives, where they get to flex those civil engineering muscles daily. Many of these roles require the technical knowledge they gained during their studies, which makes them quite relevant to their education. However, there are also some graduates who have found themselves in jobs like teaching or real estate, which don’t have much to do with civil engineering at all.

On the whole, while it's clear that a significant number of graduates are employed in positions closely related to civil engineering, there’s a noticeable chunk that veers off the path. For instance, some went into teaching or sales, which tend to focus more on communication and management than engineering skills. This mix shows that while a Civil Engineering degree can lead to many satisfying career options, not every job taken by these graduates is directly aligned with the core principles of civil engineering. All in all, it’s encouraging to see many graduates actively working in their field, but there’s definitely a variety of career journeys among them!

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 Illinois at Urbana-Champaign):

What kind of career trajectories do Civil Engineering graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

From analyzing the LinkedIn profiles of graduates from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, it seems that many Civil Engineering alumni generally embark on promising and relevant career paths. For instance, right after graduation, a lot of them start off as project engineers or in other engineering roles at well-known construction firms like Turner Construction and The Walsh Group. This initial placement aligns well with their civil engineering background, providing them hands-on experience in managing real-world projects.

As time goes on, the trend continues positively. Looking at those who graduated about five to ten years ago, many have progressed to senior positions such as project managers or civil engineers at reputable organizations. Some even transitioned from engineering roles to project management or have taken on more specialized positions in related fields, showcasing their diverse skill sets. While there are a few who ventured entirely away from engineering—like going into education or real estate—the majority remain connected to the industry. Overall, it seems that graduates from this program have generally found successful careers that build on their Civil Engineering degrees, proving that this path can lead to solid, relevant outcomes in the long run.

How hard is a Civil Engineering degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is definitely on the challenging side. The coursework is pretty rigorous, focusing heavily on math, physics, and core engineering principles, so if you're not a fan of those subjects, it might feel overwhelming at times. Plus, there's a fair amount of group projects and hands-on work, which can be both rewarding and stressful. That said, if you're passionate about the field and willing to put in the effort, you can definitely succeed. It’s not the easiest degree out there, but with good time management and a solid study plan, it’s definitely doable!

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 Illinois at Urbana-Champaign tend to make good money?

Alright, so looking at these Civil Engineering grads from the University of Illinois, it seems like most of them are doing pretty well financially. Graduates from around 2010 and onward have moved through solid roles in reputable companies—like project managers or engineers—typically associated with good salaries. For instance, those working at firms like Turner Construction and Boeing usually rake in decent bucks, especially as they move up the ladder. Some of the more recent grads, like those who became data scientists or project managers, are likely making good money too, given how hot those fields are right now. Overall, it appears that if you put in the effort and choose your path wisely in civil engineering, you can definitely secure a good living.

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 Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). 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