Civil Engineering bachelor's degree at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · Public
What this page covers
Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are close to similar programs.
$5,559 below the national median for the same field and degree level.
Debt as a share of earnings
26.5% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
$44,895 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff
+41% · Positive payoff
Available price data
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$179,580
$14,000Annual price+$123,580
$19,000Current college-wide context+$103,580
$28,000Annual price+$67,580
$42,000Annual price+$11,580
$56,000Annual price−$44,420
$70,000Annual price−$100,420
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+26%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$64,386 → $81,419Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort50Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort70Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median88Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median$19,454Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT
Size, aid and an earnings floor.
The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.
289Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment52Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers117Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count141Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
74Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,989Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$80,958$47,969 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 25 Parent PLUS borrowers.
Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$18,976
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$21,450
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$80,958
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$227/mo
Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$64,386Year 1
$80,958Year 4
$81,419Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
3.4% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$6,747
Estimated loan payment$227
88borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$80,958 vs. $86,517
$5,559 below the national median for the same field and credential.
Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?
Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Architectural and Engineering Managers$161,430 median wageTN estimate · 3,600 jobs · 11-9041$130,170–$193,380 middle 50% of TN wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 14,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEngineering Teachers, Postsecondary$100,640 median wageTN estimate · 790 jobs · 25-1032$79,880–$131,850 middle 50% of TN wages+7.8% projected U.S. growth · 3,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeCivil Engineers$95,910 median wageTN estimate · 5,790 jobs · 17-2051$76,900–$123,160 middle 50% of TN wages+6.4% projected U.S. growth · 22,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEnvironmental Engineers$97,190 median wageTN estimate · 540 jobs · 17-2081$74,890–$117,930 middle 50% of TN wages+6.3% projected U.S. growth · 2,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEngineers, All Other$96,640 median wageTN estimate · 4,400 jobs · 17-2199$72,560–$125,420 middle 50% of TN wages+3.7% projected U.S. growth · 8,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePetroleum Engineers$144,910 median wageU.S. estimate · 70 jobs · 17-2171+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 1,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers$100,390 median wageTN estimate · 6,080 jobs · 17-2151$66,270–$112,990 middle 50% of TN wages+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS
Where graduates work five years later
The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.
01
Manufacturing
about 33.1%02
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
about 28.1%03
Construction
about 5.6%04
Wholesale Trade
about 5.2%05
Educational Services
about 3.6%
Possible alternatives
Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.
Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.
Chattanooga, TN
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
$10,657 higher earnings · $703 less debt · $4,711 lower annual net price