Civil Engineering Degree in Baton Rouge, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Civil Engineering degree analysis for Baton Rouge, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$56K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$82K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.5 yrs
in Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
82
index (100 = avg)
Civil Engineering in Baton Rouge, LA Overview
Baton Rouge, Louisiana (pop. 227,470) has 16 colleges offering Civil Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 82 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $871/month. Civil Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Structural Analysis and AutoCAD. The adjusted starting salary in Baton Rouge is approximately $55,760.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$9,889/yr
Private Tuition
$38,908/yr
Room & Board
$13,546/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,166/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
68%
Civil Engineering Salary in Baton Rouge (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Baton Rouge's cost of living index of 82 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Civil Engineering salary: $68,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $125,000 senior level.Baton Rouge adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
Civil Engineering ROI Calculator for Baton Rouge
Estimate your return on investment for a Civil Engineering degree using local Baton Rouge tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,889 | Private avg: $38,908
Baton Rouge avg aid: $9,166/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,740
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$27,060
vs HS diploma in Baton Rouge
ROI Payback Period
3.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Baton Rouge
$603,260
Lifetime earnings premium ($697,000) minus total education cost ($93,740)
Student Loan Payoff for Civil Engineering in Baton Rouge
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Baton Rouge for Civil Engineering
Louisiana State University
public
$11,962/yr
$47,848 total
Southern University
public
$7,816/yr
$31,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Baton Rouge Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Civil Engineering in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Civil Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Baton Rouge Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Civil Engineering Job Titles
Civil Engineering in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$61K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$67K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$61K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lafayette, LA
$71K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$54K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$60K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$63K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Baton Rouge
Petroleum Engineering
$41K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$41K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$67K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$41K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$66K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$66K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$41K starting · 3 yr ROI
Civil Engineering Degree in Baton Rouge — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Civil Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Baton Rouge.