Best Value Civil Engineering Colleges in New York

CUNY City College delivers an extraordinary value proposition with a $3,486 net cost that leads to $64,706 median earnings, matching Columbia University's salary outcomes at a fraction of the price. New York's civil engineering graduates enter a market shaped by massive infrastructure projects like the Gateway Tunnel and ongoing subway modernization. The state's 13 programs span a dramatic cost range from City College's bargain to Syracuse University's $41,026 net price. Public institutions claim four of the top six value positions, with University at Buffalo producing $56,810 earners for just $20,470 annually.

Programs

$3,486 – $41,026

Net Price Range

$65,927

Avg. Program Earnings

76.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

13 Civil Engineering Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	CUNY City College New York, New York	$3,486	$64,706	$7,340	54.7%	66.6%
2	Columbia University in the City of New York New York, New York	$20,148	$64,706	$69,045	95.0%	4.0%
3	University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York	$20,470	$56,810	$10,782	73.4%	67.7%
4	Manhattan College Riverdale, New York	$26,881	$71,351	$50,850	66.0%	82.3%
5	Cornell University Ithaca, New York	$32,337	$73,321	$66,014	95.1%	7.5%
6	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New York	$33,139	$68,047	$61,884	83.2%	64.5%
7	New York University New York, New York	$35,035	$67,420	$60,438	88.5%	12.5%
8	Clarkson University Potsdam, New York	$31,955	$60,325	$57,950	73.6%	78.4%
9	Syracuse University Syracuse, New York	$41,026	$66,653	$63,061	81.4%	51.8%
10	The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art New York, New York	$16,478		$46,820	80.3%	22.5%
11	Hofstra University Hempstead, New York	$35,129		$55,450	67.1%	69.3%
12	Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York	$18,430		$10,560	77.8%	49.1%
13	SUNY Polytechnic Institute Utica, New York	$13,882		$8,578	59.2%	81.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY City College such an strong value for civil engineering?

City College charges just $3,486 in net costs while producing graduates who earn $64,706 annually, the same median salary as Columbia University graduates. The 54.7% graduation rate reflects the academic rigor, but those who complete the program achieve outstanding return on investment.

How do public and private civil engineering programs compare financially in New York?

Public schools dominate the value rankings, with SUNY schools charging between $3,486 and $20,470 in net costs. Private programs range from $20,148 at Columbia to $41,026 at Syracuse, though some like Manhattan College justify higher costs with $71,351 median earnings.

Does Cornell University justify its $32,337 annual cost for civil engineering?

Cornell produces the highest-earning civil engineering graduates at $73,321 median salary and maintains a 95.1% graduation rate. The Ivy League program's selectivity at 7.47% acceptance rate reflects its academic standards and career outcomes.

Where do New York civil engineering graduates typically find employment?

Graduates enter a solid job market driven by major infrastructure projects including subway system upgrades, bridge maintenance, and the $16 billion Gateway Tunnel project. The state's construction and engineering sectors benefit from both public works and private development in the NYC metro area.

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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.