Civil Engineering Degree in Cincinnati, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Civil Engineering degree analysis for Cincinnati, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$69K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$102K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3 yrs
in Cincinnati
Cost of Living
102
index (100 = avg)
Civil Engineering in Cincinnati, OH Overview
Cincinnati is one of Ohio's top college towns, with 28 institutions and a student population of 32,655. Public tuition averages $12,226/year here — near the national average for public universities. Civil Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Structural Analysis and AutoCAD. The adjusted starting salary in Cincinnati is approximately $69,360.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
28
Public Tuition
$12,226/yr
Private Tuition
$43,040/yr
Room & Board
$12,772/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,666/yr
Unemployment
3.1%
Graduation Rate
70%
Civil Engineering Salary in Cincinnati (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Cincinnati's cost of living index of 102 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Civil Engineering salary: $68,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $125,000 senior level.Cincinnati adjustment factor: 1.02x based on the local cost of living index.
Civil Engineering ROI Calculator for Cincinnati
Estimate your return on investment for a Civil Engineering degree using local Cincinnati tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,226 | Private avg: $43,040
Cincinnati avg aid: $12,666/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$99,992
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$33,660
vs HS diploma in Cincinnati
ROI Payback Period
3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Cincinnati
$767,008
Lifetime earnings premium ($867,000) minus total education cost ($99,992)
Student Loan Payoff for Civil Engineering in Cincinnati
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Cincinnati for Civil Engineering
University of Cincinnati
public
$12,226/yr
$48,904 total
Xavier University
private
$43,040/yr
$172,160 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
$5,004/yr
Top Employers for Civil Engineering in Cincinnati
Cincinnati offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Civil Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Cincinnati Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Civil Engineering Job Titles
Civil Engineering in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$70K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cleveland, OH
$65K starting · COL 96
20 colleges
Toledo, OH
$73K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Akron, OH
$71K starting · COL 105
5 colleges
Dayton, OH
$71K starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Parma, OH
$61K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$57K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$58K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Cincinnati
Petroleum Engineering
$51K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$84K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$51K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$82K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$82K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$80K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Civil Engineering Degree in Cincinnati — 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 Cincinnati.