To date, we’ve asked 103 current and past civil engineering and related studies students about their happiness with their degree. Turns out, they rate it average.

No matter the degree, there are some common factors that predict satisfaction.

To help you reach the decision that is right for you, we asked students who have pursued a civil engineering and related studies degree to respond to questions concerning five dimensions of the educational track they chose:

  • Course material: Were they interested in the material they learned?
  • Intellectual fulfillment: Did they find the coursework intellectually stimulating?
  • Job prospects: Did they leave the program with job opportunities?
  • Personality: Was the degree a good fit for their personality?
  • Overall fit: Were they happy with the program overall?

We examined their responses and combined the rankings to give us an average satisfaction score across all students. This doesn't necessarily reflect how satisfied you would be with a civil engineering and related studies degree, but it’s a starting point to help you evaluate your options.

How satisfied are civil engineering and related studies students compared to other degrees?

Overall, civil engineering and related studies students rate their satisfaction with their degree a 2.7 out of 5. This is low compared to other degrees which average a rating of 3.28 across all degrees. For context, civil engineering and related studies students rate their happiness similarly to students in Hospitality Management, French Language and Environmental Engineering.

Here are other degrees that have a similar satisfaction rating to civil engineering and related studies

DegreeAvg Grad SalarySatisfaction
Environmental Engineering$85,816
Hospitality Management$58,166
French Language$53,618
Civil Engineering and Related Studies$93,277
Food Science and Technology$81,554

Let's break that down further.

Are civil engineering and related studies students satisfied with what they’re learning?

We asked students about their satisfaction with their course material and overall intellectual fulfillment. Here’s what they said:

We asked graduates how interesting they found the course material to be. Their response was:
3.1 out of 5 stars
127 ratings
5 stars
13%
4 stars
24%
3 stars
35%
2 stars
16%
1 stars
12%
We asked graduates how intellectually fulfilling they found the degree. Their response was:
3.4 out of 5 stars
126 ratings
5 stars
18%
4 stars
34%
3 stars
25%
2 stars
10%
1 stars
12%

These ratings are meant to give you an indication about what other people enrolled in civil engineering and related studies experienced. While their input is useful, keep in mind that different people have had vastly different experiences, all of which were impacted by their personal motivations, professors, and specific curriculum. Always keep your own goals at the center of your decision-making process when it comes to something as significant as your education.

Did civil engineering and related studies graduates leave school with good job prospects?

Of course, working towards a degree is also about pursuing your desired career. Here’s what civil engineering and related studies grads had to say about their job prospects:

We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their job prospects. Their response was:
3.6 out of 5 stars
129 ratings
5 stars
29%
4 stars
34%
3 stars
17%
2 stars
11%
1 stars
9%

We can see there’s a cluster of positive responses, which might indicate a strong or growing job market.

Were civil engineering and related studies students happy with their degree overall?

This rating takes into account all factors: how demanding the program is, whether graduates felt it was worthwhile, and how fulfilling they found their educational experience.

We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their degree as a whole. Their response was:
2.7 out of 5 stars
103 ratings
5 stars
9%
4 stars
17%
3 stars
31%
2 stars
21%
1 stars
21%

As you consider this information and input from others, remember above all that your choice should be based on your interests, goals, passions, and abilities. Consider the future and give yourself time. If you’re feeling unsure, click here to take our career assessment and see what path could be right for you.

Salary

Find out what graduates typically earn.

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