Career Prospects

The pathway to success starts at Illinois.

A degree from CEE at Illinois means you have an advantage when it comes time to start your career. Recruiters know that CEE at Illinois students graduate fully prepared to succeed in their chosen field and as a result, our graduates are highly sought after. We are committed to helping you transition from student to professional. Dedicated job fairs for CEE students, professional development seminars, and opportunities for networking with alumni and industry professionals mean that you will be fully prepared to succeed in your career.

Next Steps

The Illini Success initiative gathers data about the post-graduation pursuits of bachelor’s degree recipients at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Here is a snapshot of self-reported data for CEE students who earned a bachelor’s degree during the academic year 2020-2021 (most recent data, with 76% of students responding to survey).

94% reported securing their first choice destination upon graduation.

Full-time Employment

59%

First Choice
Destination

Continuing Education

35%

Sample Employers

Burns & McDonnell
AECOM
Kiewit
Turner Construction Company
Kimley-Horn
Alfred Benesch & Company
Ardmore Roderick
BNSF Railway
Civiltech Engineering
Illinois Department of Transportation

Sample Positions

Project Engineer
Civil Engineer
Assistant Construction Manager
Assistant Structural Engineer
Design Engineer
Drainage Engineer
Engineer - Water Resources
Hydrologist
Research Assistant
Transportation Design Engineer

Sample Graduate Schools

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of California, Berkeley
Cornell University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Northwestern University
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Illinois Chicago
University of Washington-Seattle
Yale University
University of Michigan

Learn more about career development at CEE

We take our role in preparing students for the workplace seriously.

Career Prep at CEE

“Some of my strongest professional connections that I’ve maintained throughout my career have been with fellow CEE students-turned-alumni. Because the program has such a strong reputation, being a part of the CEE alumni network creates a positive first impression with new connections in many traditional and non-traditional industries.”

Jill McClary-Gutierrez (BS 13)

Learn about our alumni network

Ready to apply?

Become part of a tradition of excellence: of groundbreaking research, historic firsts and future promise.

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Questions?

Undergraduate Admissions

Becky Stillwell, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Programs: rborden@illinois.edu

Graduate Admissions

Graduate Admissions team: civil@illinois.edu

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