Construction Engineering Colleges Under $20,000

California State University-Sacramento graduates in Construction Engineering earn $80,779 annually while paying just $10,512 in net costs, creating one of the strongest return-on-investment ratios in the field. This reflects the broader construction boom across the American West, where infrastructure projects and housing development have created sustained demand for construction engineers. Net costs for Construction Engineering programs span from $10,011 at University of Nevada-Las Vegas to $16,334 at North Dakota State University, with most programs clustering around $13,000 annually. The western states dominate the most affordable options, with Nevada, California, and Utah offering particularly strong value propositions. Construction Engineering connects directly to the $1.8 trillion infrastructure bill and ongoing urbanization trends, making these affordable programs especially valuable for students entering a field projected to grow 8% through 2031.

Programs

$10,011 – $19,568

Net Price Range

$71,869

Avg. Program Earnings

60.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

23 Construction Engineering Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada	$10,011	$9,142	50.1%	85.3%
2	California State University-Sacramento Sacramento, California	$10,512	$7,602	55.8%	93.2%
3	The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, Texas	$10,726	$9,744	45.9%	99.9%
4	Texas A & M University-Commerce Commerce, Texas	$11,268	$10,026	45.9%	86.5%
5	Lamar University Beaumont, Texas	$11,429	$8,690	37.2%	83.7%
6	University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, Nebraska	$12,791	$8,370	47.5%	85.9%
7	University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah	$13,172	$9,315	63.9%	89.1%
8	University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, Hawaii	$13,181	$12,186	62.6%	72.8%
9	Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, Arizona	$13,670	$12,051	67.8%	89.8%
10	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, Indiana	$13,945	$9,992	83.1%	52.7%
11	Washington State University Pullman, Washington	$14,401	$12,997	61.6%	83.1%
12	The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, Texas	$15,235	$11,728	56.5%	80.8%
13	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, California	$15,624	$11,075	85.2%	30.4%
14	University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, Arkansas	$16,136	$8,455	41.4%	61.5%
15	North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo, North Dakota	$16,334	$10,857	63.7%	95.7%
16	Georgia Southern University Statesboro, Georgia	$16,531	$5,905	52.1%	88.9%
17	North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, North Carolina	$16,931	$8,895	84.6%	47.2%
18	University of Delaware Newark, Delaware	$16,931	$16,080	78.8%	73.8%
19	Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, Georgia	$16,972	$5,786	48.1%	67.9%
20	University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska	$17,424	$10,108	65.8%	78.6%
21	Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Bend, Oregon	$17,722	$12,594	51.2%	79.0%
22	Iowa State University Ames, Iowa	$18,165	$10,497	75.5%	90.2%
23	Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon	$19,568	$13,494	70.6%	82.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $70,000 gap between the lowest and highest earning Construction Engineering programs?

California State University-Sacramento graduates earn $80,779 while North Dakota State graduates start at $59,417, reflecting regional construction market differences. California's higher cost of living and major infrastructure projects drive up salaries significantly. The debt levels also vary, with Sacramento students graduating with $14,514 in debt compared to other programs. These salary differences often correlate with proximity to major metropolitan construction markets and state infrastructure spending.

How do graduation rates vary among affordable Construction Engineering programs?

Graduation rates range from 37.2% at Lamar University to 85.2% at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, showing significant variation in program completion. Cal Poly's 85.2% rate comes with much higher selectivity at 30.43% acceptance, while more accessible programs like University of Texas at El Paso accept 99.92% of applicants but graduate 45.9%. Purdue achieves 83.1% graduation with moderate selectivity at 52.7% acceptance. These patterns suggest that program structure and student preparation significantly impact completion rates.

Is there a cost difference between western and other regional Construction Engineering programs?

Western programs show both the most and least expensive options, with Nevada at $10,011 and Cal Poly at $15,624. Texas programs cluster in the middle range, from $10,726 at UT El Paso to $15,235 at UT Arlington. Midwestern options like Nebraska at Omaha cost $12,791 while North Dakota State reaches $16,334. The geographic spread suggests state funding policies and local cost structures matter more than regional patterns.

Does program selectivity correlate with Construction Engineering career outcomes?

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo accepts only 30.43% of applicants and achieves an 85.2% graduation rate, while Purdue accepts 52.7% with an 83.1% graduation rate and $78,343 earnings. However, Sacramento accepts 93.21% of students yet produces the highest earners at $80,779 annually. University of Texas at El Paso accepts 99.92% of applicants but graduates only 45.9%. This suggests that regional job markets and program focus may matter more than admission selectivity for career success.

Where do Construction Engineering students find the best value for career preparation?

Sacramento offers strong value with $10,512 net costs producing $80,779 earnings, creating nearly 8:1 annual return ratios. Purdue provides strong outcomes at $13,945 net cost with $78,343 earnings and 83.1% graduation rates. University of Utah combines moderate $13,172 costs with a solid 63.9% graduation rate in a growing construction market. These programs balance affordability with strong regional construction industry connections and career placement success.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.