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Best Value Civil Engineering Colleges in Alabama

Ranked by best return on investment (earnings vs. cost). See our methodology.

Alabama's six civil engineering programs show striking differences in both cost and career outcomes. While Alabama A&M offers the lowest net price at $14,559, University of Alabama in Huntsville graduates earn the highest starting salaries at $62,012. This range reflects Alabama's growing aerospace and automotive manufacturing sectors, where civil engineers design infrastructure for companies like Hyundai and support NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center operations. Auburn University leads in graduation rates at 79.2%, though at the highest cost of $23,897.
6
Programs
$14,559 – $23,897
Net Price Range
$56,631
Avg. Program Earnings
59.8%
Avg. Graduation Rate

6 Civil Engineering Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price Program Earnings In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $15,142 $58,402 $9,676 52.6% 65.4%
2 $14,559 $47,260 $10,024 28.7% 68.4%
3 $17,727 $56,776 $8,832 62.4% 86.7%
4 $19,880 $62,012 $11,770 61.9% 78.1%
5 $22,150 $58,402 $11,900 73.7% 80.1%
6 $23,897 $56,931 $12,536 79.2% 43.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $15,000 earnings gap between Alabama civil engineering programs?

University of Alabama in Huntsville graduates earn $62,012 compared to Alabama A&M's $47,260, largely due to location and industry connections. Huntsville's proximity to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and aerospace contractors creates higher-paying opportunities for civil engineers in specialized infrastructure projects.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs in Alabama?

Auburn University has the highest graduation rate at 79.2% but costs $23,897 annually. In contrast, Alabama A&M costs just $14,559 but graduates only 28.7% of students. The University of Alabama balances these factors with a 73.7% graduation rate at $22,150.

Which Alabama civil engineering program offers the best debt-to-earnings ratio?

University of Alabama in Huntsville provides the strongest financial outcome with $62,012 in earnings against just $19,049 in debt. This 3.3-to-1 ratio significantly outperforms other programs, where ratios range from 1.8-to-1 at Alabama A&M to 2.3-to-1 at University of Alabama.

More Civil Engineering Rankings

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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.