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

$19,734

Avg Net Price

69%

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

97%6-yr grad rate

Most Affordable
CUNY City College

$3,486avg 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

$3,486

Field Earnings

$81,836

#2 Best ValuePublic
California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA

Net Price

$4,113

Field Earnings

$90,155

#3 Best ValuePublic
California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA

Net Price

$5,646

Field Earnings

$83,693

#4 Best ValuePublic
University of Florida

Gainesville, FL

Net Price

$6,351

Field Earnings

$79,578

#5 Best ValuePublic
California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA

Net Price

$6,480

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 69% — 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%$31,927
Santa Clara UniversitySanta ClaraCAPrivate Nonprofit$100,59844%$50,959
San Jose State UniversitySan JoseCAPublic$96,09880%$13,741
Cornell UniversityIthacaNYPrivate Nonprofit$95,0568%$32,337
Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburghPAPrivate Nonprofit$93,76911%$31,671
California State University-ChicoChicoCAPublic$93,13194%$14,838
University of the PacificStocktonCAPrivate Nonprofit$92,40995%$25,926
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis ObispoCAPublic$91,42430%$15,624
University of California-DavisDavisCAPublic$91,24342%$15,288
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeleyCAPublic$91,00612%$14,979
Manhattan UniversityRiverdaleNYPrivate Nonprofit$90,90478%$26,881
University of California-Los AngelesLos AngelesCAPublic$90,2889%$14,013
California State University-Los AngelesLos AngelesCAPublic$90,15592%$4,113
San Francisco State UniversitySan FranciscoCAPublic$89,28696%$12,882
Lafayette CollegeEastonPAPrivate Nonprofit$88,49431%$32,496
Stevens Institute of TechnologyHobokenNJPrivate Nonprofit$87,83943%$40,468
Loyola Marymount UniversityLos AngelesCAPrivate Nonprofit$87,79040%$45,723
George Washington UniversityWashingtonDCPrivate Nonprofit$87,02644%$37,454
San Diego State UniversitySan DiegoCAPublic$86,59634%$16,174
University of California-IrvineIrvineCAPublic$86,20926%$12,840
Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcesterMAPrivate Nonprofit$85,85959%$43,273
Saint Martin's UniversityLaceyWAPrivate Nonprofit$85,21676%$22,618
New York UniversityNew YorkNYPrivate Nonprofit$85,1339%$35,035
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn ArborMIPublic$85,12318%$14,832
University of Notre DameNotre DameINPrivate Nonprofit$85,09012%$27,823
Vanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTNPrivate Nonprofit$84,7166%$19,040
California State Polytechnic University-PomonaPomonaCAPublic$84,70174%$11,580
University of Alaska AnchorageAnchorageAKPublic$84,68867%$13,780
Syracuse UniversitySyracuseNYPrivate Nonprofit$84,68542%$41,026
California State University-SacramentoSacramentoCAPublic$84,25894%$10,512
University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesvilleVAPublic$84,13517%$22,881
California State University-Long BeachLong BeachCAPublic$83,84947%$8,931
California State University-FullertonFullertonCAPublic$83,69387%$5,646
Wentworth Institute of TechnologyBostonMAPrivate Nonprofit$83,69285%$34,170
Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew YorkNYPrivate Nonprofit$83,6614%$20,148
The Catholic University of AmericaWashingtonDCPrivate Nonprofit$83,14684%$32,798
Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteTroyNYPrivate Nonprofit$82,69658%$33,139
University of HoustonHoustonTXPublic$82,61470%$13,853
University of California-San DiegoLa JollaCAPublic$82,58425%$11,750
Northeastern UniversityBostonMAPrivate Nonprofit$82,5846%$32,116
University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanksAKPublic$82,560N/A$9,634
Roger Williams UniversityBristolRIPrivate Nonprofit$82,55488%$38,123
George Mason UniversityFairfaxVAPublic$82,47589%$18,287
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlantaGAPublic$82,29716%$13,289
University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattleWAPublic$82,14943%$13,485
The University of Texas at AustinAustinTXPublic$82,10329%$19,678
Texas A&M University-College StationCollege StationTXPublic$82,03563%$20,924
California State University-NorthridgeNorthridgeCAPublic$81,96793%$7,599
Central Connecticut State UniversityNew BritainCTPublic$81,84276%$16,435
CUNY City CollegeNew YorkNYPublic$81,83658%$3,486
University of ArizonaTucsonAZPublic$81,82186%$15,960
University of ConnecticutStorrsCTPublic$81,55654%$22,886
Lehigh UniversityBethlehemPAPrivate Nonprofit$81,37529%$33,549
University of Maryland-College ParkCollege ParkMDPublic$81,23545%$15,590
Texas Tech UniversityLubbockTXPublic$80,97471%$20,071
California State University-FresnoFresnoCAPublic$80,77596%$6,480
Marquette UniversityMilwaukeeWIPrivate Nonprofit$80,63687%$29,237
Brigham Young University-IdahoRexburgIDPrivate Nonprofit$80,52197%$7,131
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnatiOHPublic$80,48988%$23,156
University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherstMAPublic$80,41658%$23,691
Rice UniversityHoustonTXPrivate Nonprofit$80,3648%$12,640
Montana Technological UniversityButteMTPublic$80,32790%$16,240
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonWIPublic$80,26543%$16,928
Citadel Military College of South CarolinaCharlestonSCPublic$80,05598%$21,002
The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlingtonTXPublic$79,90381%$15,235
Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyTerre HauteINPrivate Nonprofit$79,88873%$40,665
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempeAZPublic$79,86790%$13,670
Florida International UniversityMiamiFLPublic$79,74959%$9,133
Colorado School of MinesGoldenCOPublic$79,72060%$29,240
Oregon State UniversityCorvallisORPublic$79,70779%$19,568
University of FloridaGainesvilleFLPublic$79,57824%$6,351
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaignILPublic$79,51444%$15,201
University of DelawareNewarkDEPublic$79,31465%$16,931
New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNewarkNJPublic$79,26767%$16,496
Washington State UniversityPullmanWAPublic$79,13985%$14,401
Oregon Institute of TechnologyKlamath FallsORPublic$78,79692%$16,391
California Baptist UniversityRiversideCAPrivate Nonprofit$78,74074%$27,384
Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew BrunswickNJPublic$78,73965%$23,519
Michigan State UniversityEast LansingMIPublic$78,66884%$20,751
The University of AlabamaTuscaloosaALPublic$78,60476%$22,150
Drexel UniversityPhiladelphiaPAPrivate Nonprofit$78,50978%$38,428
Minnesota State University-MankatoMankatoMNPublic$78,35191%$18,609
Bucknell UniversityLewisburgPAPrivate Nonprofit$78,18432%$40,429
Colorado State University-Fort CollinsFort CollinsCOPublic$78,01090%$20,332
Villanova UniversityVillanovaPAPrivate Nonprofit$78,00325%$44,876
University of New HavenWest HavenCTPrivate Nonprofit$77,97681%$34,089
University of Nevada-Las VegasLas VegasNVPublic$77,85196%$10,011
Lawrence Technological UniversitySouthfieldMIPrivate Nonprofit$77,83680%$33,995
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBaton RougeLAPublic$77,83374%$20,015
The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaChattanoogaTNPublic$77,79377%$12,817
University of PortlandPortlandORPrivate Nonprofit$77,67895%$36,371
Ohio Northern UniversityAdaOHPrivate Nonprofit$77,61973%$25,727
Iowa State UniversityAmesIAPublic$77,36589%$18,165
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusDenverCOPublic$76,95378%$19,133
Wayne State UniversityDetroitMIPublic$76,87182%$14,773
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbiaSCPublic$76,84961%$24,532
The University of Texas at TylerTylerTXPublic$76,70292%$13,931
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburghPAPublic$76,59750%$30,074
University of Pittsburgh-JohnstownJohnstownPAPublic$76,59796%$18,952
Clarkson UniversityPotsdamNYPrivate Nonprofit$76,57877%$31,955
University of KansasLawrenceKSPublic$76,32088%$17,365
North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleighNCPublic$76,32040%$16,931
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburgVAPublic$76,24757%$23,790
Utah State UniversityLoganUTPublic$75,92594%$12,869
University of Illinois ChicagoChicagoILPublic$75,85379%$12,313
Clemson UniversityClemsonSCPublic$75,85338%$22,112
Michigan Technological UniversityHoughtonMIPublic$75,83288%$15,729
University of Missouri-Kansas CityKansas CityMOPublic$75,64175%$12,837
University of HartfordWest HartfordCTPrivate Nonprofit$75,63283%$29,558
University of LouisvilleLouisvilleKYPublic$75,60581%$17,634
Kennesaw State UniversityKennesawGAPublic$75,59969%$16,972
Merrimack CollegeNorth AndoverMAPrivate Nonprofit$75,55674%$37,899
University of Colorado BoulderBoulderCOPublic$75,53983%$21,480
University of Hawaii at ManoaHonoluluHIPublic$75,52470%$13,181
University of South FloridaTampaFLPublic$75,40041%$10,043
New Mexico State University-Main CampusLas CrucesNMPublic$75,38176%$6,747
Gonzaga UniversitySpokaneWAPrivate Nonprofit$75,34676%$36,371
Portland State UniversityPortlandORPublic$75,05591%$12,932
Purdue University-Main CampusWest LafayetteINPublic$75,04850%$13,945
University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamALPublic$75,04088%$17,727
University of Central FloridaOrlandoFLPublic$74,90040%$10,650
Rowan UniversityGlassboroNJPublic$74,88078%$22,185
University of IowaIowa CityIAPublic$74,84185%$21,398
Temple UniversityPhiladelphiaPAPublic$74,79683%$29,219
University of North DakotaGrand ForksNDPublic$74,70577%$18,998
University of Rhode IslandKingstonRIPublic$74,66477%$19,899
University of South AlabamaMobileALPublic$74,62265%$15,142
Mississippi State UniversityMississippi StateMSPublic$74,49776%$15,501
University of DaytonDaytonOHPrivate Nonprofit$74,48762%$31,236
The University of Texas at San AntonioSan AntonioTXPublic$74,38988%$11,234
Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicagoILPrivate Nonprofit$74,29255%$19,353
University of Missouri-St LouisSaint LouisMOPublic$74,27657%$12,323
Case Western Reserve UniversityClevelandOHPrivate Nonprofit$74,26629%$38,909
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbusOHPublic$74,13251%$18,292
Bradley UniversityPeoriaILPrivate Nonprofit$73,79577%$23,572
Old Dominion UniversityNorfolkVAPublic$73,74491%$14,170
University of VermontBurlingtonVTPublic$73,63860%$20,860
Auburn UniversityAuburnALPublic$73,59450%$23,897
University of Massachusetts-LowellLowellMAPublic$73,41185%$18,627
University of GeorgiaAthensGAPublic$73,32737%$13,816
Brigham Young UniversityProvoUTPrivate Nonprofit$73,32769%$14,487
University of Wisconsin-PlattevillePlattevilleWIPublic$73,24087%$14,754
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNormanOKPublic$73,20677%$17,413
Florida State UniversityTallahasseeFLPublic$73,18025%$10,997
University of UtahSalt Lake CityUTPublic$73,08987%$13,172
Quinnipiac UniversityHamdenCTPrivate Nonprofit$73,06477%$39,207
Milwaukee School of EngineeringMilwaukeeWIPrivate Nonprofit$72,94060%$24,021
University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukeeWIPublic$72,84588%$16,177
University of New Mexico-Main CampusAlbuquerqueNMPublic$72,65895%$17,478
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolisMNPublic$72,52677%$17,139
University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotteNCPublic$72,46180%$14,745
Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffAZPublic$72,34891%$14,922
University of New Hampshire-Main CampusDurhamNHPublic$72,23187%$23,261
University of Nevada-RenoRenoNVPublic$72,03885%$15,402
University of North FloridaJacksonvilleFLPublic$71,93762%$10,353
Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNYPublic$71,85649%$18,430
The College of New JerseyEwingNJPublic$71,64962%$25,458
West Virginia University Institute of TechnologyBeckleyWVPublic$71,55661%$9,957
West Virginia UniversityMorgantownWVPublic$71,55686%$12,997
North Dakota State University-Main CampusFargoNDPublic$71,38196%$16,334
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondaleILPublic$71,34190%$16,177
Virginia Military InstituteLexingtonVAPublic$71,33882%$18,849
Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFort MyersFLPublic$71,32477%$10,319
Prairie View A & M UniversityPrairie ViewTXPublic$71,27675%$14,041
University of Louisiana at LafayetteLafayetteLAPublic$71,22389%$14,118
University of Akron Main CampusAkronOHPublic$71,19171%$14,981
Oklahoma State University-Main CampusStillwaterOKPublic$71,17671%$16,378
University of IdahoMoscowIDPublic$71,17079%$13,782
Valparaiso UniversityValparaisoINPrivate Nonprofit$71,09492%$21,583
Jackson State UniversityJacksonMSPublic$70,88991%$20,191
Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsvilleILPublic$70,60797%$13,696
South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyRapid CitySDPublic$70,31885%$20,380
Ohio University-Main CampusAthensOHPublic$69,96485%$20,413
Western Michigan UniversityKalamazooMIPublic$69,95085%$18,701
North Carolina A & T State UniversityGreensboroNCPublic$69,78846%$10,980
University of MemphisMemphisTNPublic$69,76893%$13,253
University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluthMNPublic$69,74882%$18,464
Missouri University of Science and TechnologyRollaMOPublic$69,67273%$13,773
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxvilleTNPublic$69,65946%$18,109
Florida Institute of TechnologyMelbourneFLPrivate Nonprofit$69,55963%$35,300
University of ArkansasFayettevilleARPublic$69,39872%$17,525
Purdue University NorthwestHammondINPublic$69,33971%$8,463
Kansas State UniversityManhattanKSPublic$69,30079%$17,883
University of Nebraska at OmahaOmahaNEPublic$69,26287%$12,791
The University of Texas at El PasoEl PasoTXPublic$69,228100%$10,726
University of Nebraska-LincolnLincolnNEPublic$69,16177%$17,424
Seattle UniversitySeattleWAPrivate Nonprofit$69,15176%$34,802
University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbiaMOPublic$69,12277%$19,889
Howard UniversityWashingtonDCPrivate Nonprofit$68,92835%$47,919
Morgan State UniversityBaltimoreMDPublic$68,73783%$15,015
Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboroGAPublic$68,70690%$16,531
Widener UniversityChesterPAPrivate Nonprofit$68,61184%$30,470
Western New England UniversitySpringfieldMAPrivate Nonprofit$67,72683%$31,170
University at BuffaloBuffaloNYPublic$67,57269%$20,470
South Dakota State UniversityBrookingsSDPublic$67,56199%$18,219
University of ToledoToledoOHPublic$67,40695%$17,460
Boise State UniversityBoiseIDPublic$67,26984%$19,182
The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyEdinburgTXPublic$66,61285%$6,500
University of KentuckyLexingtonKYPublic$66,42992%$17,218
Trine UniversityAngolaINPrivate Nonprofit$66,20385%$25,580
Tennessee Technological UniversityCookevilleTNPublic$65,93283%$14,207
Cleveland State UniversityClevelandOHPublic$65,92795%$16,065
Montana State UniversityBozemanMTPublic$65,61887%$20,593
Youngstown State UniversityYoungstownOHPublic$65,53980%$11,877
University of MaineOronoMEPublic$65,38496%$18,045
Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca RatonFLPublic$65,27973%$8,001
University of Massachusetts-DartmouthNorth DartmouthMAPublic$65,27992%$20,605
University of New OrleansNew OrleansLAPublic$65,16367%$11,147
Arkansas State UniversityJonesboroARPublic$64,58370%$13,085
Western Kentucky UniversityBowling GreenKYPublic$64,51097%$10,916
University of WyomingLaramieWYPublic$64,47497%$11,779
University of Alabama in HuntsvilleHuntsvilleALPublic$64,12274%$19,880
SUNY Polytechnic InstituteUticaNYPublic$63,63778%$13,882
University of Puerto Rico-MayaguezMayaguezPRPublic$63,17152%$12,684
Louisiana Tech UniversityRustonLAPublic$61,86873%$12,209
Texas A&M University-KingsvilleKingsvilleTXPublic$61,71192%$10,204
Norwich UniversityNorthfieldVTPrivate Nonprofit$60,61174%$25,600
Southern University and A & M CollegeBaton RougeLAPublic$60,21950%$19,740
University of MississippiUniversityMSPublic$58,11298%$13,164
Angelo State UniversitySan AngeloTXPublic$56,68879%$12,915
Universidad Politecnica de Puerto RicoHato ReyPRPrivate Nonprofit$51,064N/A$16,338

Showing 221 of 221 schools