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Civil Engineering Degree in Jackson, MS — Salary & ROI 2026

Civil Engineering degree analysis for Jackson, MS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$63K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$93K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

2.8 yrs

in Jackson

Cost of Living

93

index (100 = avg)

Civil Engineering in Jackson, MS Overview

Jackson, Mississippi (pop. 153,701) has 11 colleges offering Civil Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 93 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $855/month. Civil Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Structural Analysis and AutoCAD. The adjusted starting salary in Jackson is approximately $63,240.

Category

Engineering

Local Colleges

11

Public Tuition

$8,684/yr

Private Tuition

$27,400/yr

Room & Board

$12,839/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$14,629/yr

Unemployment

4.6%

Graduation Rate

62%

Civil Engineering Salary in Jackson (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Jackson's cost of living index of 93 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$63,240($-4,760 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$93,000($-7,000 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$116,250($-8,750 vs national)

Note: National average Civil Engineering salary: $68,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $125,000 senior level.Jackson adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.

Civil Engineering ROI Calculator for Jackson

Estimate your return on investment for a Civil Engineering degree using local Jackson tuition and cost of living data.

Public avg: $8,684 | Private avg: $27,400

Jackson avg aid: $14,629/yr

Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%

Total Education Cost

$86,092

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$30,690

vs HS diploma in Jackson

ROI Payback Period

2.8 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Jackson

$704,408

Lifetime earnings premium ($790,500) minus total education cost ($86,092)

Student Loan Payoff for Civil Engineering in Jackson

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$86,092
Monthly Payment$978
Total Interest$31,215
% of Monthly Income19%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$86,092
Monthly Payment$1,684
Total Interest$14,977
Interest Savings$16,238

Colleges in Jackson for Civil Engineering

Jackson State University

public

$8,684/yr

$34,736 total

Belhaven University

private

$27,400/yr

$109,600 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Hinds Community College

$3,300/yr

Top Employers for Civil Engineering in Jackson

Jackson offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Civil Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:

AECOMBechtelJacobsUS Army Corps of EngineersKiewit

Key Jackson Hiring Sectors for Engineering

Engineering firms

Manufacturing

Defense contractors

Energy companies

Construction firms

Common Civil Engineering Job Titles

Civil EngineerStructural EngineerProject Manager

Civil Engineering Degree in Jackson — 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.

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Compare Civil Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Jackson.

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