What can you do with a Civil Engineering degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute?

First, some facts. Of the Civil Engineering graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute 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 70%, Civil Engineering graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute have a slightly higher likelihood (+3%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 70%
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 27% 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 Worcester Polytechnic Institute and our analysis:


Relevance score: 55%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2014 from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Civil Engineering. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Program Manager: Auxiliary Division, Communications Divsion
US Navy
Jun 2016 - Aug 2018
As a Program Manager in the US Navy, some organizational and project management skills may overlap with civil engineering principles, but the role does not require a strong foundation in civil engineering knowledge.

Project Manager: Reactor Plant Testing Programs
US Navy
Feb 2018 - Nov 2018
The position of Project Manager for Reactor Plant Testing Programs likely involves extensive application of engineering principles and practices, making it directly relevant to the civil engineering degree.

Assistant Engineer, Engineering Department
US Navy
Aug 2018 - Apr 2019
Working as an Assistant Engineer in the Engineering Department requires practical engineering skills and knowledge directly aligned with the civil engineering bachelor's program.

Nuclear Submarine Officer
US Navy
May 2014 - Present
Serving as a Nuclear Submarine Officer may involve technical skills that are somewhat relevant to engineering, but it focuses more on military operations and systems rather than civil engineering specifically.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Nuclear Engineering
Nuclear Power School - Naval Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC)
2014 - 2015

Nuclear Reactor Plant Operations
Nuclear Power Training Unit - Charleston, SC
2015 - 2016

Unknown degree
Submarine Officer Basic School and Leadership Course
2016 - 2016

Engineer's Degree - NavE
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2019 - 2022

Master of Science - MS
MIT Sloan School of Management
2019 - 2022

Unknown degree
Naval Postgraduate School
2024 - 2024
ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Civil Engineering degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute?

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


From the analysis of LinkedIn profiles of graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Civil Engineering, it's clear that many have landed roles related to project management and engineering. A lot of them work as Project Engineers or Project Managers, where they draw on their civil engineering knowledge to oversee and manage construction projects, making these positions highly relevant to their studies. For instance, graduates have taken roles in companies like Gale Associates, Permasteelisa North America, and the US Navy, where civil engineering principles are essential for their daily tasks. You can see how those who stayed close to engineering or construction are leveraging their degrees well.

However, there are quite a few cases where the jobs don't seem to connect as strongly with civil engineering. For example, some graduates ended up in roles like marketing, sales, or event coordination, where their civil engineering knowledge isn't directly applied. These positions tend to focus more on operations or unrelated tasks. In general, while many grads find relevant and applicable roles, there are also notable exceptions where they veer quite far from their civil engineering roots, which can be a bit surprising given the technical nature of their degree. So, if you're thinking about a degree in Civil Engineering, it seems like there's a solid chance of finding a related job, but be aware that some grads do go off in different directions too!

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 Worcester Polytechnic Institute):

What kind of career trajectories do Civil Engineering graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When checking out the career paths of graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Civil Engineering, it looks like many of them start off pretty well in their field. Right after graduation, a lot of them find roles like project engineers or structural engineers, which are solid entry-level positions that align closely with their degree. For instance, one graduate went from being an Engineer in Training to a Project Engineer within just a couple of years, while another moved quickly into project management roles. It seems that most graduates are able to secure jobs in relevant engineering sectors fairly quickly after leaving school, which is definitely a good sign about the program's reputation and the skillset they’re leaving with.

As for where they end up five or ten years later, many of these engineers have continued to climb the career ladder, often taking on management roles or transitioning into specialized positions within engineering firms. We see examples of people stepping into project management and even senior engineering roles, which shows that they have not only found a niche for themselves but have also been able to advance significantly in their careers. A few have even landed positions with companies like Apple and AIG, indicating a strong trajectory in their careers. Overall, it seems like graduates from WPI are doing quite well for themselves in fields related to Civil Engineering, suggesting a bright future for upcoming graduates as well!

How hard is a Civil Engineering degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, especially at a place like Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), can be pretty challenging. Civil Engineering programs are known for being rigorous because they mix a lot of math, physics, and engineering principles with hands-on projects—think stuff like structural design and fluid mechanics. WPI also has a reputation for its project-based learning approach, which means you’ll be doing a ton of practical work alongside your theoretical classes. So, if you’re someone who enjoys problem-solving and doesn’t mind putting in the effort, you’ll probably thrive, but don’t expect it to be a walk in the park! It’s definitely on the tougher side compared to some other majors, but if you're passionate about it, the rewards can be worth the hard work.

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 Worcester Polytechnic Institute tend to make good money?

Looking at these WPI grads, it seems like most of them are on a solid career trajectory, especially the ones who moved quickly into project management and engineering roles at reputable companies. For instance, the 2010 grad is now working at Apple, which likely comes with a good paycheck, while the 2011 grad climbed the ranks at Gale Associates. Even newer grads are getting good positions right out of school, which is a good indicator of decent starting salaries. Of course, some paths are a bit twisty, like that one 2013 graduate who jumped between quite a few roles before settling down. Overall, they seem to be making decent money for the most part, especially considering many landed roles at well-known companies or in specialized fields—so, yeah, it looks like they're doing well!

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 Worcester Polytechnic Institute). 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