What can you do with a Civil Engineering degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison?

First, some facts. Of the Civil Engineering graduates from University of Wisconsin-Madison 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 16 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Great! Overall, with an average relevance score of 90%, Civil Engineering graduates from University of Wisconsin-Madison have a substantially higher likelihood (+23%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 90%
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 18% 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 University of Wisconsin-Madison and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2019 from University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Civil Engineering. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Site Engineer
JP Cullen
Jan 2020 - May 2023
As a Site Engineer at JP Cullen, the role directly employs technical civil engineering knowledge and skills learned during the Bachelor's program, necessitating their application on a daily basis.

Assistant Project Manager
JP Cullen
Jun 2023 - Present
The position of Assistant Project Manager at JP Cullen also requires a strong foundation in civil engineering principles, making it highly relevant to the Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, as the job involves overseeing projects that utilize this expertise.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Civil Engineering degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison?

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


When looking at LinkedIn profiles of graduates from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Civil Engineering, it’s clear that many of them hold positions directly related to civil engineering. Typical roles include Design Engineers, Project Managers, and Civil Engineers at various firms. These positions generally demand a strong grasp of engineering principles and often involve project planning, design, and execution tasks that are fundamental to civil engineering. For instance, roles like Project Engineers at Mortenson or Civil Engineers at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation are prime examples where the skills learned during their studies are actively applied in their everyday work.

However, not all graduates find themselves strictly in civil engineering roles. A noticeable number have transitioned into positions such as Business Intelligence Consultant or roles in education, which utilize analytical thinking but don’t directly require civil engineering expertise. While these jobs may draw on some skills honed during their engineering studies, like problem-solving or data analysis, they lack the core engineering focus that many degree holders typically seek. Overall, while there’s a solid chunk of graduates who have landed highly relevant roles, a significant portion has veered off into areas that don't connect as strongly with the civil engineering discipline.

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 Wisconsin-Madison):

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

Based on this analysis of Civil Engineering graduates from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, it’s pretty clear that many of these alumni are finding solid careers in fields that are relevant to their degree. Right after graduation, most of them landed roles as engineers or project managers, which makes a lot of sense given their educational background. Jobs like design engineer, project engineer, and civil engineer feature prominently as first positions, indicating they’re diving straight into hands-on engineering work rather than veering off into unrelated fields. This trajectory is a good sign; it suggests that these graduates are leveraging their education effectively in the workforce.

Looking a few years ahead, the career paths for many of these individuals typically show progression within the engineering and construction sectors. After about five years, some have advanced to roles such as project manager, national account manager, or even independent consultants, indicating a trajectory of growth and increased responsibility. Even ten years out, many are holding significant positions such as lead engineers or have moved into management roles in reputable companies. So while everyone’s path is unique, the general trend indicates that Civil Engineering graduates from UW-Madison are doing well and often remain in the field, building on their foundational skills and experiences.

How hard is a Civil Engineering degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison?

Hey there! So, jumping into a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is definitely not a walk in the park, but it’s also super rewarding if you’re into math and science. Generally, Civil Engineering programs are known to be pretty tough because you’ll be tackling a lot of complex concepts, like structural analysis and fluid mechanics, combined with heavy coursework in mathematics and physics. The workload can feel a bit intense at times, especially if you’re not used to studying hard or managing projects, but if you stay organized and passionate about the subject, it can be manageable. So, while it’s definitely on the challenging side, plenty of students get through it with dedication and a bit of grit!

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 Wisconsin-Madison tend to make good money?

Looking at these graduates from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, it seems like they've landed some pretty solid jobs and are likely making decent money. Many of them have steadily climbed the ranks in engineering and project management roles, especially those with several years of experience and a shift toward leadership positions. A few even broke into higher-profile consultancy roles or management, suggesting they’re not just scraping by. It's pretty common for engineers to earn respectable salaries, especially in specialized areas like civil engineering and project management, so I'd say they're probably doing well financially, especially if they've been smart about moving up in their careers.

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 Wisconsin-Madison). 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