What can you do with a Civil Engineering degree from West Virginia University?

First, some facts. Of the Civil Engineering graduates from West Virginia 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 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 81%, Civil Engineering graduates from West Virginia University 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, only 30% 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 West Virginia University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 35%

We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2017 from West Virginia University with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Construction Intern
Thrasher Engineering, Inc
Jun 2017 - Aug 2017
The Construction Intern position does not align with skills or knowledge from a Civil Engineering degree in a significant way, as it likely involves general assistance rather than engineering-specific tasks.

Insurance Operations Specialist
North American Dental Group
Jul 2021 - Mar 2022
As an Insurance Operations Specialist, the job does not require any civil engineering skills or knowledge, making it unrelated to the Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering.

Event Specialist
RACER PRODUCTIONS, INC.
Jan 2018 - Feb 2020
The role of Event Specialist does not utilize civil engineering skills, as it focuses more on event planning and coordination rather than engineering-related tasks.

Event Operations Manager
RACER PRODUCTIONS, INC.
Feb 2020 - Jun 2021
Although the Event Operations Manager role may require some organizational skills that could reflect project management principles from civil engineering, it does not utilize core engineering knowledge on a daily basis.

Event Supervisor
RACER PRODUCTIONS, INC.
Jun 2021 - Jun 2022
The Event Supervisor position may involve oversight of logistic processes that could loosely relate to project management, but it does not substantially utilize civil engineering skills or knowledge.

Leadership Trainee
Republic Services
Jun 2022 - Oct 2023
As a Leadership Trainee, this position could incorporate elements of project management and operational oversight, which may carry some relevance to civil engineering, but lacks a direct application of engineering principles.

Operations Manager
Republic Services
Oct 2023 - Present
The Operations Manager role likely involves substantial project management and process improvement tasks, which align closely with skills developed during a Civil Engineering degree, thereby making it highly relevant.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Business Administration - MBA
West Virginia University
2021 - 2022
ABOUT

Aspiring servant leader focusing on people and processes.Always getting rid of the Muda.Appreciating the people & experiences that have shaped me.Obsessed with positive impact.

What jobs can you get with a Civil Engineering degree from West Virginia University?

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


It looks like most of the folks who graduated with a Civil Engineering degree from West Virginia University have generally landed jobs that are relevant to their field. Positions like Transportation Design Engineer, Civil Engineer, and Project Engineer show a strong connection to civil engineering principles and practices. These roles typically involve working on infrastructure projects, managing designs, and ensuring that structures meet safety and quality standards. It's pretty clear that many graduates stuck to jobs that directly apply what they learned during their time at university.

However, there's a noticeable chunk of graduates who have veered off into unrelated fields. Jobs in marketing, education, and event management popped up quite a bit. While they may have picked up some leadership and organizational skills, these positions don't really tap into the core civil engineering knowledge. So, while many graduates are doing exactly what they studied for, others have taken a different path that doesn't relate much to civil engineering at all. It's a bit of a mixed bag, but overall, there’s a strong representation of roles that keep the engineering spirit alive!

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 West Virginia University):

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

So, looking at the career paths of Civil Engineering graduates from West Virginia University, it seems like a lot of them have landed jobs that are relevant to their degree right after graduating. Many started off in positions like junior engineers, interns, or construction inspectors, which is pretty typical for fresh grads in the engineering field. For example, graduates from 2014 to 2022 have taken roles ranging from transportation design engineers to project engineers, and even construction inspectors. This suggests that the program has prepared them well for jumping straight into engineering roles that are hands-on and impactful in the field.

However, there are a few notable exceptions. Some graduates took a detour into roles unrelated to Civil Engineering, such as marketing or event management, especially within their first few years. For instance, the 2015 grad who ended up working as a marketing strategist and then transitioned into education shows that not everyone stays in the engineering lane. But overall, it seems like many of them find their way back to engineering after a detour, as shown by newer graduates who are solidly in engineering-related roles right after school. By the time they're five to ten years out, the trends suggest they’re most likely progressing in their engineering careers, which can lead to pretty good opportunities in the job market. So, while it may not be a perfect path for everyone, a strong majority find fulfilling careers in Civil Engineering.

How hard is a Civil Engineering degree from West Virginia University?

A Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, whether at West Virginia University or elsewhere, can be pretty challenging but totally manageable with the right mindset and effort. You're diving into a mix of math, physics, and engineering principles, which can definitely get intense, especially with all the design and analysis courses. But don’t worry too much; if you're passionate about it and willing to put in the study time, you’ll find a groove. Some people might say it’s harder than average due to the technical content and the workload, but it can also be super rewarding for those who enjoy problem-solving and building things. So, just be ready to hit the books and collaborate on projects, and you’ll come out fine!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 5 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering.

Do Civil Engineering graduates from West Virginia University tend to make good money?

Looking at these graduates from West Virginia University, it seems like most of them are landing pretty decent jobs in civil engineering or related fields. The ones who graduated earlier, especially, like the Transportation Design Engineer III, have been in stable roles since graduation, which could mean good money, typically around the $70k to $90k range or even higher in some spots. Others have had a mix of experiences, some hopping around between roles, but it looks like they’re still building their careers and skills. Fresh grads like the one working as an Underground Tunnel Inspector are starting off strong too. Overall, while there’s a bit of a mixed bag in terms of job types and stability for some early in their careers, many seem to be on promising paths, and it looks like they're making decent money in the civil engineering game.

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 West Virginia 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