Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Schools are assigned a value from 1-100, where 100 is best for students from households earning up to $30,000. This value is multiplied by the percentage of the school’s student body that received a Pell Grant, to calculate the economic mobility score. A higher score is better. Read the full explanation
The percentage of a school’s student body that has received a Pell Grant.
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
The busy beavers of the engineering world, civil engineers design, build, and maintain buildings, roads, bridges, dams, and other crucial infrastructure projects. We reveal the best civil engineering schools in the country, by value for money. These exceptional civil engineering programs provide the best available combination of affordability and high earning potential.
Is civil engineering a good major?
Civil engineering is a very good major in terms of economic value. People with a civil engineering bachelor’s degree earn 33.2% more than the average bachelor’s holder just 4 years after leaving school.
This puts civil engineering in the top 20% of all majors by value for money, as captured by our economic score metric, which shows the return on investment (ROI) value of college degrees.
Civil engineering could be an especially great major for people who loved Lego as a kid and dreamed of building bridges, buildings, and other structures. Civil engineering students should have good grades in math, science, and computer subjects and possess an innate curiosity about how the physical world works.
Civil engineering is also a good major for hands-on learners: civil engineers don’t mind rolling up their sleeves and getting their hands dirty as they inspect a construction site.
One study conducted in 2024 by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York determined that people who majored in civil engineering have an underemployment rate of just 15.9%.
Underemployment is when you have a job, just not one you need your degree for; in other words, people with a civil engineering degree have a very high chance of finding a job in their field soon after graduation.
Use our college major comparison tool below to compare civil engineering with other majors – like industrial engineering, economics, or computer engineering.
Click on a degree card to reveal more information.
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
$19,568
PAYBACK
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
2.3
ECONOMIC SCORE
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
We ranked all the accredited civil engineering bachelor’s programs in the U.S. that are registered with the National Center for Education Statistics’ IPEDS data collection tool (under CIP code 14.08).
We evaluated 216 bachelor’s programs and ranked them by value for money, as reflected by our economic score metric. The lower the economic score, the better.
Civil engineering programs with a low economic score provide the optimal combination of affordability and high earnings after graduation.
Note that our cost figures relate to net cost, which is the average amount students pay after financial aid. It includes room, board, and other expenses.
All data on net cost and post-graduation economic outcomes is sourced from IPEDS and College Scorecard, primary sources from the U.S. Department of Education.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$3,434
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$81,836
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate63%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
CUNY City College (City College or CCNY) is a public research university in Manhattan, New York City. City College is the flagship institution of the CUNY system, a network of colleges in the Big Apple that are nationally renowned for their affordable, high-quality degrees. It is home to one of the best civil engineering programs in the country.
City College’s Grove School of Engineering offers a BE in Civil Engineering that teaches students more than just foundational civil engineering coursework: program participants also learn about environmental policy, transportation policy and engineering, water resource engineering, and more. Students select a specialization in their junior year. The curriculum, which includes many lab experiences, prepares students to take the Civil Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$5,385
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$90,155
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate71%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA), a public university in LA, is an affordable, yet respected institution widely recognized for its equitable policies that help low-income students earn high-quality degrees.
The department of Civil Engineering at Cal State LA offers one of the best-value civil engineering degrees in the nation; its B.S. in Civil Engineering covers the basics of engineering analysis and design for students who want to devote their careers to building vital infrastructure projects. Students can also choose an area of specialization: construction management, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, hydraulic and water resources engineering, structural engineering, or transportation engineering.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$6,275
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$79,578
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate89%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of Florida (UF) is a public research university in Gainesville, a fun college town in the north-central part of the state. It is one of the largest universities in the country, and its civil engineering program is one of the best in the south. Florida’s vulnerability to hurricanes and floods makes good civil engineers a vital asset.
UF’s Civil and Coastal Engineering department places a strong emphasis on social consciousness, with graduates making an impact in business, industry, and government. In teaching the fundamentals of science and engineering, as well as how to plan, design, construct, and operate civil engineering projects, this program prepares students to take engineering licensing examinations.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$6,450
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$73,180
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate84%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Florida State University (FSU or Florida State) is a large public university in Tallahassee, the state capital. It is one of Florida’s oldest universities. It is home to one of the best of Florida’s many outstanding civil engineering programs, which is offered at both the main Tallahassee campus and the Panama City campus.
The B.S. in Civil Engineering teaches students to plan, design, construct, and operate buildings, roads, airports, pipelines, bridges, dams, levees, irrigation works, and much more. Students can also choose to specialize in environmental engineering.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$8,722
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$79,749
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate75%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Florida International University (FIU) is a public research university in University Park, Florida, on the state’s sunny Atlantic coast. One of the largest universities in the country, it is home to an outstanding civil engineering program.
FIU’s BS in Civil Engineering learn to build, rebuild, maintain and develop infrastructure through an exciting curriculum that features classes such as fluids lab, structural analysis, transportation & traffic, and much more.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$7,485
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$83,693
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate81%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) is a public research university in Orange Country, conveniently located by downtown Los Angeles and Disneyland.
Students of the B.S. in Civil Engineering program are provided with a broad overview of the many aspects of civil engineering, including structures, geotechnical engineering, architecture, hydraulics, environmental engineering, transportation, and construction. The curriculum features many labs.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$6,744
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$80,775
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate71%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
California State University, Fresno, usually referred to as Fresno State, is an affordable, yet respected, public university in the Golden State’s Central Valley.
The Lyles College of Engineering at Fresno State offers a respected B.S. in Civil Engineering. Its curriculum is devoted to the research, development, planning, design, construction, and maintenance associated with urban development, water supply, structures, water treatment, transportation systems, and more.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$8,721
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$83,849
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate83%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
California State University, Long Beach, usually referred to as Long Beach State University, is a public research university in Long Beach, California, just south of Los Angeles. It is an officially designed Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).
Its B.S. in Civil Engineering is a great choice for students who want to save on their education without compromising on quality. The curriculum, which is rich in labs, includes courses like surveying and mapping, materials for civil engineering, analytical mechanics, computer programming for engineers, structural analysis, environmental engineering, highway design, and much more.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$8,495
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$75,381
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate56%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
New Mexico State University (NMSU) is a public research university in Las Cruces, a college town not far from El Paso, surrounded by stunning scenery on the edge of the Chihuahua Desert.
Its Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering is one of the best in the Southwest. The program, which leads to professional licensure, includes courses such as mechanics of materials, structural analysis, soil mechanics, foundation design, transportation engineering, and much more.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$9,203
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$75,400
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate77%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$8,293
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$81,967
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate70%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
California State University, Northridge (CSUN or Cal State Northridge) is a large public university in Los Angeles, California. By enrollment size, it is one of the largest universities in the state. It is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).
Cal State Northridge’s B.S. in Civil Engineering provides students with a strong foundation in the field. Examples of courses include mechanics lab, vibration analysis, engineering statics, strength of materials, soil mechanics, and much more.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$8,852
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$71,937
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate69%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of South Florida (USF) is a large public university based in the Tampa area. It provides affordable, high-quality degrees for prospective engineers from Florida and beyond.
The B.S. in Civil Engineering at USF teaches students to create a sustainable world and enhance the global quality of life as they serve as master planners, designers, constructors, and operators of society’s economic and social engine. Students may choose between many electives, and they complete a capstone design project in their senior year.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$14,370
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$96,098
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate76%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
San Jose State University (San Jose State or SJSU) is a public university in San Jose, California. It is the oldest public university on the West Coast, and it is home to one of the most ethnically diverse student bodies in the nation.
San Jose State is home to a well-respected B.S. in Civil Engineering that prepares students to apply engineering knowledge to solving issues related to resources, infrastructure, and the built environment. Examples of courses include plane surveying, structural analysis, construction engineering, fluid mechanics, and geotechnical engineering.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$9,949
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$74,900
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate78%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public research university in Orange County, Florida, in the Orlando area. Its campus features a picturesque lake and many acres of woodland.
Students of UCF’s Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering learn about the design and analysis of structures, geotechnical engineering, engineering mechanics, water resources, and more. Graduates have gone on to become civil engineers, field engineers, geotechnical engineers, threshold inspectors, traffic engineers, and water resources engineers.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$12,426
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$86,209
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate87%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of California, Irvine (UCI) is a large public university located in Orange County, not far from Los Angeles. It is often considered a “Public Ivy” due to its rigorous academic reputation.
The prestigious B.S. in Civil Engineering at Irvine provides a strong founding in engineering science and develops students’ analysis and design capabilities. Students must choose an area of specialization: general civil engineering, environmental hydrology and water resources, structural engineering, or transportation systems engineering.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$12,912
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$89,286
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate68%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
San Francisco State University (San Francisco State, SF State, or SFSU) is a public research university in San Francisco – the cultural heart of California’s Bay Area. It is part of the Cal State network of universities.
San Francisco State’s Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering thoroughly prepares students to become licensed civil engineers. Graduates of the program are able to solve complex engineering problems by applying the principles of engineering, science, and math.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$12,721
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$86,596
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate82%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
San Diego State University (SDSU) is a public research university in San Diego, a pleasant city in Southern California on the Pacific Ocean.
The B.S. in Civil Engineering at SDSU features state-of-the-art laboratories and plenty of hands-on experience. Students can choose from among 6 fields of study, including construction, environmental, geotechnical, structural, transportation, and water resources. Sample courses include highway engineering, applied hydraulics, geotechnical engineering, and foundation engineering/earth retaining structures.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$10,911
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$84,258
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate70%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
California State University, Sacramento (CSUS, Sacramento State, or simply Sac State) is a public university in Sacramento, California – the Golden State’s capital. It is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), and it has been designated a “Tree Campus USA” due to its green campus.
The B.S. in Civil Engineering program at Sacramento State teaches students how to apply knowledge of mathematics and computers to planning, analyzing, designing, and constructing various types of public and private works. The curriculum involves numerous labs, and students complete a “senior project” in their final year.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$15,637
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$90,288
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate93%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
University of California, Los Angeles, or UCLA, is one of the most prestigious and selective public universities in the country. Often termed a Public Ivy, it has a global reputation for cutting-edge research and academic excellence.
The highly prestigious B.S. in Civil Engineering at UCLA is offered through the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science. To graduate, students must complete a capstone design project that draws on prior coursework. Sample courses include geotechnical engineering, hydrology and water resources engineering, and transportation engineering.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$15,674
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$91,243
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate89%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
University of California, Davis (usually referred to as U.C. Davis) is a public research university in Davis, a small college town outside of Sacramento. It was originally established as an agricultural college, although it has since expanded significantly, offering over 100 undergraduate majors.
Civil engineering majors at UC Davis learn about the design, construction, and maintenance of structures that constitute the vital infrastructure of the modern world. Students complete a senior design project in their final year.
A key difference between civil engineers and architects is that civil engineers are more involved in the actual construction of the buildings that architects design. It is their job to carry out projects to the end, often negotiating with architects to make sure their design ideas are feasible and safe on the ground.
Civil engineers may visit sites to supervise construction, whereas architects mostly work in an office.
Whereas architects focus on designing buildings, civil engineers also build roads, water systems, and other infrastructure projects.
See an early-career salary comparison of different engineering and architecture majors below.
Electrical engineering - $90,590
Computer engineering - $90,189
Chemical engineering - $86,902
Industrial engineering - $86,315
Mechanical engineering - $82,261
Construction management - $81,845
Biomedical engineering - $80,681
Materials engineering - $77,514
Civil engineering - $76,683
Environmental engineering - $65,898
Architecture - $59,988
Source: IPEDS data
Civil engineering salary info
People with a bachelor’s in civil engineering earn an average salary of $76,648, 4 years after leaving school, according to IPEDS data.
Getting a master’s degree in this field unlocks an average salary bump of 12.2% four years on. Note that you don’t need a master’s degree for most civil engineering positions, although getting one may help you reach management positions.
O*NET data reveals that 25.6% of civil engineers have a master’s degree, while 30.6% of engineering managers have one.
Click on a degree card to reveal more information.
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