Best Colleges for Civil Engineering (2026)

221 programs ranked by graduate earnings, acceptance rates, and outcomes — powered by federal data from the U.S. Department of Education.

221

Programs

$76,166

Avg Field Earnings

$19,796

Avg Net Price

68%

Avg Admit Rate

There are 221 accredited Civil Engineering programs across U.S. colleges and universities, with graduate earnings ranging from $51,064 to $106,533. University of Southern California produces the highest-earning graduates, while the average program graduate earns $76,166 within four years of completion. Whether you're focused on maximizing earning potential or finding the best value, this data — sourced from the U.S. Department of Education — helps you compare programs side by side.

Quick Facts — Civil Engineering Programs

Highest Earning
University of Southern California

$106,533field earnings

Most Selective
Columbia University in the City of New York

4%acceptance rate

Best Grad Rate
University of Notre Dame

96%6-yr grad rate

Most Affordable
CUNY City College

$3,776avg net price

Top 15 Colleges for Civil Engineering by Graduate Earnings

Ranked by field-specific earnings after graduation. Public and private nonprofit only.

#SchoolEarnings
1University of Southern California$106,533
2Santa Clara University$100,598
3San Jose State University$96,098
4Cornell University$95,056
5Carnegie Mellon University$93,769
6California State University-Chico$93,131
7University of the Pacific$92,409
8California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$91,424
9University of California-Davis$91,243
10University of California-Berkeley$91,006
11Manhattan University$90,904
12University of California-Los Angeles$90,288
13California State University-Los Angeles$90,155
14San Francisco State University$89,286
15Lafayette College$88,494

Best Value Civil Engineering Programs

Lowest net price among schools with above-median Civil Engineering graduate earnings (above $75,599).

#1 Best ValuePublic
CUNY City College

New York, NY

Net Price

$3,776

Field Earnings

$81,836

#2 Best ValuePublic
California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA

Net Price

$3,967

Field Earnings

$90,155

#3 Best ValuePublic
University of Florida

Gainesville, FL

Net Price

$6,541

Field Earnings

$79,578

#4 Best ValuePublic
California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA

Net Price

$6,555

Field Earnings

$83,693

#5 Best ValuePublic
California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA

Net Price

$7,000

Field Earnings

$80,775

What the Data Tells Us

  • 18 of the top 15 programs by earnings are at public universities — 7 are private nonprofits.
  • 2The #1 program (University of Southern California) pays 40% more than the average Civil Engineering program nationally.
  • 3Average acceptance rate among Civil Engineering programs is 68% — selectivity varies widely by school.
  • 4Best-value programs combine above-median earnings (>$75,599) with lower-than-average net prices.
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All Civil Engineering Programs

All 221 institutions offering Civil Engineering. Click column headers to sort. Includes for-profit institutions.

SchoolCityStateTypeField EarningsAdmit RateNet Price
University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCAPrivate Nonprofit$106,53310%$32,740
Santa Clara UniversitySanta ClaraCAPrivate Nonprofit$100,59848%$50,062
San Jose State UniversitySan JoseCAPublic$96,09885%$13,760
Cornell UniversityIthacaNYPrivate Nonprofit$95,0569%$28,690
Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburghPAPrivate Nonprofit$93,76912%$31,944
California State University-ChicoChicoCAPublic$93,13193%$14,480
University of the PacificStocktonCAPrivate Nonprofit$92,40971%$25,447
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis ObispoCAPublic$91,42431%$16,665
University of California-DavisDavisCAPublic$91,24342%$14,741
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeleyCAPublic$91,00611%$13,481
Manhattan UniversityRiverdaleNYPrivate Nonprofit$90,90479%$27,256
University of California-Los AngelesLos AngelesCAPublic$90,2889%$12,548
California State University-Los AngelesLos AngelesCAPublic$90,15591%$3,967
San Francisco State UniversitySan FranciscoCAPublic$89,28696%$12,278
Lafayette CollegeEastonPAPrivate Nonprofit$88,49431%$34,433
Stevens Institute of TechnologyHobokenNJPrivate Nonprofit$87,83948%$41,346
Loyola Marymount UniversityLos AngelesCAPrivate Nonprofit$87,79045%$48,381
George Washington UniversityWashingtonDCPrivate Nonprofit$87,02647%$36,586
San Diego State UniversitySan DiegoCAPublic$86,59636%$15,364
University of California-IrvineIrvineCAPublic$86,20929%$14,251
Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcesterMAPrivate Nonprofit$85,85960%$43,071
Saint Martin's UniversityLaceyWAPrivate Nonprofit$85,21690%$28,119
New York UniversityNew YorkNYPrivate Nonprofit$85,1339%$37,050
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn ArborMIPublic$85,12316%$13,138
University of Notre DameNotre DameINPrivate Nonprofit$85,09011%$26,780
Vanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTNPrivate Nonprofit$84,7166%$15,846
California State Polytechnic University-PomonaPomonaCAPublic$84,70175%$11,531
University of Alaska AnchorageAnchorageAKPublic$84,688N/A$15,301
Syracuse UniversitySyracuseNYPrivate Nonprofit$84,68546%$38,793
California State University-SacramentoSacramentoCAPublic$84,25894%$9,338
University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesvilleVAPublic$84,13517%$21,565
California State University-Long BeachLong BeachCAPublic$83,84946%$10,440
California State University-FullertonFullertonCAPublic$83,69391%$6,555
Wentworth Institute of TechnologyBostonMAPrivate Nonprofit$83,69291%$34,170
Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew YorkNYPrivate Nonprofit$83,6614%$21,590
The Catholic University of AmericaWashingtonDCPrivate Nonprofit$83,14683%$29,561
Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteTroyNYPrivate Nonprofit$82,69663%$36,228
University of HoustonHoustonTXPublic$82,61474%$14,276
University of California-San DiegoLa JollaCAPublic$82,58427%$12,470
Northeastern UniversityBostonMAPrivate Nonprofit$82,5845%$30,915
University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanksAKPublic$82,560N/A$10,892
Roger Williams UniversityBristolRIPrivate Nonprofit$82,55488%$37,999
George Mason UniversityFairfaxVAPublic$82,47587%$17,915
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlantaGAPublic$82,29714%$12,116
University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattleWAPublic$82,14939%$14,091
The University of Texas at AustinAustinTXPublic$82,10327%$19,857
Texas A&M University-College StationCollege StationTXPublic$82,03557%$21,315
California State University-NorthridgeNorthridgeCAPublic$81,96793%$7,021
Central Connecticut State UniversityNew BritainCTPublic$81,84273%$16,857
CUNY City CollegeNew YorkNYPublic$81,83660%$3,776
University of ArizonaTucsonAZPublic$81,82186%$16,674
University of ConnecticutStorrsCTPublic$81,55652%$25,097
Lehigh UniversityBethlehemPAPrivate Nonprofit$81,37526%$36,931
University of Maryland-College ParkCollege ParkMDPublic$81,23545%$15,678
Texas Tech UniversityLubbockTXPublic$80,97473%$19,070
California State University-FresnoFresnoCAPublic$80,77595%$7,000
Marquette UniversityMilwaukeeWIPrivate Nonprofit$80,63681%$31,487
Brigham Young University-IdahoRexburgIDPrivate Nonprofit$80,52196%$8,221
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnatiOHPublic$80,48985%$25,648
University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherstMAPublic$80,41660%$22,383
Rice UniversityHoustonTXPrivate Nonprofit$80,3648%$13,370
Montana Technological UniversityButteMTPublic$80,32791%$16,481
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonWIPublic$80,26545%$17,354
Citadel Military College of South CarolinaCharlestonSCPublic$80,05523%$20,723
The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlingtonTXPublic$79,90380%$13,951
Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyTerre HauteINPrivate Nonprofit$79,88877%$42,513
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempeAZPublic$79,86790%$14,967
Florida International UniversityMiamiFLPublic$79,74955%$9,288
Colorado School of MinesGoldenCOPublic$79,72061%$28,690
Oregon State UniversityCorvallisORPublic$79,70777%$19,604
University of FloridaGainesvilleFLPublic$79,57824%$6,541
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaignILPublic$79,51442%$14,355
University of DelawareNewarkDEPublic$79,31471%$17,799
New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNewarkNJPublic$79,26765%$16,504
Washington State UniversityPullmanWAPublic$79,13987%$14,971
Oregon Institute of TechnologyKlamath FallsORPublic$78,79695%$15,706
California Baptist UniversityRiversideCAPrivate Nonprofit$78,74085%$26,285
Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew BrunswickNJPublic$78,73958%$24,406
Michigan State UniversityEast LansingMIPublic$78,66885%$19,680
The University of AlabamaTuscaloosaALPublic$78,60477%$22,420
Drexel UniversityPhiladelphiaPAPrivate Nonprofit$78,50979%$38,509
Minnesota State University-MankatoMankatoMNPublic$78,35188%$19,139
Bucknell UniversityLewisburgPAPrivate Nonprofit$78,18429%$40,766
Colorado State University-Fort CollinsFort CollinsCOPublic$78,01089%$21,279
Villanova UniversityVillanovaPAPrivate Nonprofit$78,00327%$43,756
University of New HavenWest HavenCTPrivate Nonprofit$77,97660%$34,192
University of Nevada-Las VegasLas VegasNVPublic$77,85196%$10,359
Lawrence Technological UniversitySouthfieldMIPrivate Nonprofit$77,83656%$32,918
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBaton RougeLAPublic$77,83373%$19,151
The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaChattanoogaTNPublic$77,79381%$14,265
University of PortlandPortlandORPrivate Nonprofit$77,67889%$28,210
Ohio Northern UniversityAdaOHPrivate Nonprofit$77,61974%$24,478
Iowa State UniversityAmesIAPublic$77,36589%$18,589
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusDenverCOPublic$76,95375%$11,900
Wayne State UniversityDetroitMIPublic$76,87181%$12,766
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbiaSCPublic$76,84960%$22,811
The University of Texas at TylerTylerTXPublic$76,70294%$13,323
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburghPAPublic$76,59758%$30,434
University of Pittsburgh-JohnstownJohnstownPAPublic$76,59795%$18,202
Clarkson UniversityPotsdamNYPrivate Nonprofit$76,57877%$30,305
University of KansasLawrenceKSPublic$76,32093%$18,059
North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleighNCPublic$76,32042%$17,303
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburgVAPublic$76,24755%$24,953
Utah State UniversityLoganUTPublic$75,92592%$14,936
University of Illinois ChicagoChicagoILPublic$75,85377%$10,974
Clemson UniversityClemsonSCPublic$75,85338%$22,253
Michigan Technological UniversityHoughtonMIPublic$75,83292%$14,182
University of Missouri-Kansas CityKansas CityMOPublic$75,64172%$13,310
University of HartfordWest HartfordCTPrivate Nonprofit$75,63296%$30,282
University of LouisvilleLouisvilleKYPublic$75,60579%$17,988
Kennesaw State UniversityKennesawGAPublic$75,59969%$15,048
Merrimack CollegeNorth AndoverMAPrivate Nonprofit$75,55670%$37,927
University of Colorado BoulderBoulderCOPublic$75,53978%$25,346
University of Hawaii at ManoaHonoluluHIPublic$75,52487%$15,664
University of South FloridaTampaFLPublic$75,40043%$9,812
New Mexico State University-Main CampusLas CrucesNMPublic$75,38189%$8,889
Gonzaga UniversitySpokaneWAPrivate Nonprofit$75,34682%$35,119
Portland State UniversityPortlandORPublic$75,05591%$9,552
Purdue University-Main CampusWest LafayetteINPublic$75,04850%$14,600
University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamALPublic$75,04088%$18,749
University of Central FloridaOrlandoFLPublic$74,90040%$10,411
Rowan UniversityGlassboroNJPublic$74,88078%$22,408
University of IowaIowa CityIAPublic$74,84184%$22,531
Temple UniversityPhiladelphiaPAPublic$74,79680%$28,198
University of North DakotaGrand ForksNDPublic$74,70577%$18,551
University of Rhode IslandKingstonRIPublic$74,66472%$21,440
University of South AlabamaMobileALPublic$74,62271%$17,648
Mississippi State UniversityMississippi StateMSPublic$74,49778%$17,595
University of DaytonDaytonOHPrivate Nonprofit$74,48765%$29,533
The University of Texas at San AntonioSan AntonioTXPublic$74,38987%$10,836
Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicagoILPrivate Nonprofit$74,29255%$18,425
University of Missouri-St LouisSaint LouisMOPublic$74,27663%$15,071
Case Western Reserve UniversityClevelandOHPrivate Nonprofit$74,26637%$41,190
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbusOHPublic$74,13261%$17,339
Bradley UniversityPeoriaILPrivate Nonprofit$73,79577%$22,719
Old Dominion UniversityNorfolkVAPublic$73,74490%$14,638
University of VermontBurlingtonVTPublic$73,63865%$19,343
Auburn UniversityAuburnALPublic$73,59446%$24,323
University of Massachusetts-LowellLowellMAPublic$73,41183%$17,163
University of GeorgiaAthensGAPublic$73,32738%$13,936
Brigham Young UniversityProvoUTPrivate Nonprofit$73,32768%$15,564
University of Wisconsin-PlattevillePlattevilleWIPublic$73,24089%$16,032
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNormanOKPublic$73,20677%$15,300
Florida State UniversityTallahasseeFLPublic$73,18024%$11,297
University of UtahSalt Lake CityUTPublic$73,08986%$16,200
Quinnipiac UniversityHamdenCTPrivate Nonprofit$73,06472%$40,675
Milwaukee School of EngineeringMilwaukeeWIPrivate Nonprofit$72,94059%$22,453
University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukeeWIPublic$72,84591%$15,014
University of New Mexico-Main CampusAlbuquerqueNMPublic$72,65895%$15,489
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolisMNPublic$72,52680%$16,778
University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotteNCPublic$72,46180%$15,435
Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffAZPublic$72,34890%$14,158
University of New Hampshire-Main CampusDurhamNHPublic$72,23188%$23,805
University of Nevada-RenoRenoNVPublic$72,03874%$15,927
University of North FloridaJacksonvilleFLPublic$71,93753%$10,154
Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNYPublic$71,85649%$18,784
The College of New JerseyEwingNJPublic$71,64962%$27,646
West Virginia University Institute of TechnologyBeckleyWVPublic$71,55637%$9,337
West Virginia UniversityMorgantownWVPublic$71,55689%$15,634
North Dakota State University-Main CampusFargoNDPublic$71,38195%$15,543
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondaleILPublic$71,34187%$13,297
Virginia Military InstituteLexingtonVAPublic$71,33871%$17,113
Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFort MyersFLPublic$71,32463%$12,568
Prairie View A & M UniversityPrairie ViewTXPublic$71,27679%$13,570
University of Louisiana at LafayetteLafayetteLAPublic$71,22387%$13,530
University of Akron Main CampusAkronOHPublic$71,19160%$13,946
Oklahoma State University-Main CampusStillwaterOKPublic$71,17675%$17,447
University of IdahoMoscowIDPublic$71,17076%$14,831
Valparaiso UniversityValparaisoINPrivate Nonprofit$71,09489%$18,578
Jackson State UniversityJacksonMSPublic$70,88993%$23,836
Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsvilleILPublic$70,60798%$14,889
South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyRapid CitySDPublic$70,31880%$20,183
Ohio University-Main CampusAthensOHPublic$69,96485%$21,637
Western Michigan UniversityKalamazooMIPublic$69,95085%$15,273
North Carolina A & T State UniversityGreensboroNCPublic$69,78850%$10,846
University of MemphisMemphisTNPublic$69,76872%$12,397
University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluthMNPublic$69,74889%$18,743
Missouri University of Science and TechnologyRollaMOPublic$69,67273%$16,298
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxvilleTNPublic$69,65942%$18,976
Florida Institute of TechnologyMelbourneFLPrivate Nonprofit$69,55958%$35,639
University of ArkansasFayettevilleARPublic$69,39874%$18,209
Purdue University NorthwestHammondINPublic$69,33972%$6,079
Kansas State UniversityManhattanKSPublic$69,30082%$19,406
University of Nebraska at OmahaOmahaNEPublic$69,26287%$13,441
The University of Texas at El PasoEl PasoTXPublic$69,228100%$9,403
University of Nebraska-LincolnLincolnNEPublic$69,16187%$17,747
Seattle UniversitySeattleWAPrivate Nonprofit$69,15177%$34,662
University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbiaMOPublic$69,12278%$20,268
Howard UniversityWashingtonDCPrivate Nonprofit$68,92841%$50,539
Morgan State UniversityBaltimoreMDPublic$68,73782%$14,985
Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboroGAPublic$68,70688%$15,267
Widener UniversityChesterPAPrivate Nonprofit$68,61171%$25,759
Western New England UniversitySpringfieldMAPrivate Nonprofit$67,72683%$27,290
University at BuffaloBuffaloNYPublic$67,57274%$20,995
South Dakota State UniversityBrookingsSDPublic$67,56198%$19,841
University of ToledoToledoOHPublic$67,40692%$17,249
Boise State UniversityBoiseIDPublic$67,26987%$21,610
The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyEdinburgTXPublic$66,61294%$4,831
University of KentuckyLexingtonKYPublic$66,42993%$18,851
Trine UniversityAngolaINPrivate Nonprofit$66,20385%$25,355
Tennessee Technological UniversityCookevilleTNPublic$65,93276%$14,246
Cleveland State UniversityClevelandOHPublic$65,92791%$14,764
Montana State UniversityBozemanMTPublic$65,61882%$22,499
Youngstown State UniversityYoungstownOHPublic$65,53984%$12,767
University of MaineOronoMEPublic$65,38497%$17,510
Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca RatonFLPublic$65,27966%$8,752
University of Massachusetts-DartmouthNorth DartmouthMAPublic$65,27991%$20,927
University of New OrleansNew OrleansLAPublic$65,16374%$12,384
Arkansas State UniversityJonesboroARPublic$64,58382%$12,366
Western Kentucky UniversityBowling GreenKYPublic$64,51094%$10,990
University of WyomingLaramieWYPublic$64,47497%$13,599
University of Alabama in HuntsvilleHuntsvilleALPublic$64,12269%$18,796
SUNY Polytechnic InstituteUticaNYPublic$63,63781%$14,164
University of Puerto Rico-MayaguezMayaguezPRPublic$63,17157%$17,936
Louisiana Tech UniversityRustonLAPublic$61,86886%$11,864
Texas A&M University-KingsvilleKingsvilleTXPublic$61,71191%$12,090
Norwich UniversityNorthfieldVTPrivate Nonprofit$60,61174%$22,257
Southern University and A & M CollegeBaton RougeLAPublic$60,21935%$20,077
University of MississippiUniversityMSPublic$58,11297%$13,314
Angelo State UniversitySan AngeloTXPublic$56,68883%$15,091
Universidad Politecnica de Puerto RicoHato ReyPRPrivate Nonprofit$51,064N/A$17,540

Showing 221 of 221 schools