Best Value Construction Engineering Colleges

California State University-Sacramento delivers the strongest value proposition in Construction Engineering education, charging just $10,512 in net costs while producing graduates who earn $80,779 annually. This striking combination places it far ahead of competitors like National University, which costs three times more at $31,058 despite offering similar earning potential. The 20 programs analyzed reveal a clear public school advantage, with state institutions dominating the lower cost brackets while maintaining solid career outcomes. Construction Engineering graduates enter a field experiencing significant growth across the American West, where infrastructure modernization and seismic retrofitting projects drive consistent demand for skilled professionals. Public universities consistently outperform private institutions in this analysis, offering net costs between $10,512 and $23,790 compared to private schools that stretch toward $31,058. The data shows graduates can expect starting salaries ranging from $59,417 to $82,440, with many programs producing professionals who quickly advance into project management roles at major construction firms and state transportation departments.

Programs

$10,011 – $35,035

Net Price Range

$71,301

Avg. Program Earnings

63.9%

Avg. Graduation Rate

35 Construction Engineering Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	California State University-Sacramento Sacramento, California	$10,512	$80,779	$7,602	55.8%	93.2%
2	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, Indiana	$13,945	$78,343	$9,992	83.1%	52.7%
3	Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Bend, Oregon	$17,722	$71,295	$12,594	51.2%	79.0%
4	Iowa State University Ames, Iowa	$18,165	$70,083	$10,497	75.5%	90.2%
5	Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon	$19,568	$71,295	$13,494	70.6%	82.5%
6	North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo, North Dakota	$16,334	$59,417	$10,857	63.7%	95.7%
7	The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama	$22,150	$76,460	$11,900	73.7%	80.1%
8	Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas	$20,071	$68,139	$11,852	67.5%	67.3%
9	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Bowling Green, Ohio	$20,918	$62,154	$14,081	62.8%	78.7%
10	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, Virginia	$23,790	$67,324	$15,478	86.3%	57.0%
11	Bradley University Peoria, Illinois	$23,572	$65,238	$39,680	72.1%	75.1%
12	National University San Diego, California	$31,058	$82,440	$13,320	50.0%
13	Marquette University Milwaukee, Wisconsin	$29,237	$73,949	$48,700	80.1%	87.2%
14	North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, North Carolina	$16,931		$8,895	84.6%	47.2%
15	Citadel Military College of South Carolina Charleston, South Carolina	$21,002		$12,570	72.8%	98.6%
16	Texas A & M University-Commerce Commerce, Texas	$11,268		$10,026	45.9%	86.5%
17	Lamar University Beaumont, Texas	$11,429		$8,690	37.2%	83.7%
18	The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, Texas	$15,235		$11,728	56.5%	80.8%
19	The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, Texas	$10,726		$9,744	45.9%	99.9%
20	Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, Georgia	$16,972		$5,786	48.1%	67.9%
21	University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah	$13,172		$9,315	63.9%	89.1%
22	Washington State University Pullman, Washington	$14,401		$12,997	61.6%	83.1%
23	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, Ohio	$23,156		$13,570	71.5%	86.2%
24	New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury, New York	$20,709		$44,360	56.0%	75.7%
25	New York University New York, New York	$35,035		$60,438	88.5%	12.5%
26	University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada	$10,011		$9,142	50.1%	85.3%
27	University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska	$17,424		$10,108	65.8%	78.6%
28	University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, Nebraska	$12,791		$8,370	47.5%	85.9%
29	University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, Hawaii	$13,181		$12,186	62.6%	72.8%
30	Georgia Southern University Statesboro, Georgia	$16,531		$5,905	52.1%	88.9%
31	University of Delaware Newark, Delaware	$16,931		$16,080	78.8%	73.8%
32	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, California	$15,624		$11,075	85.2%	30.4%
33	California Baptist University Riverside, California	$27,384		$39,720	59.5%	79.9%
34	University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, Arkansas	$16,136		$8,455	41.4%	61.5%
35	Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, Arizona	$13,670		$12,051	67.8%	89.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes California State University-Sacramento such an outstanding value for Construction Engineering?

Sacramento State combines the lowest net cost at $10,512 with the second-highest graduate earnings at $80,779, creating an strong return on investment. The program maintains a 93.21% acceptance rate while producing graduates who command strong salaries in California's active construction market. Students graduate with manageable debt loads averaging $14,514, positioning them well for immediate career success.

How do public universities compare to private schools for Construction Engineering value?

Public institutions dominate this ranking, occupying 12 of the top 15 spots with significantly lower costs than private alternatives. State schools like Purdue and Iowa State offer net costs around $13,945 and $18,165 respectively, while private institutions like Marquette University charge $29,237. Public programs consistently deliver strong graduate outcomes without the premium pricing of private colleges.

Does graduation rate correlate with program cost in Construction Engineering?

Higher-priced programs show mixed graduation rate performance, contradicting assumptions about cost and quality. Purdue University achieves an 83.10% graduation rate at $13,945, while National University manages only 50% despite charging $31,058. The data suggests that institutional support and program structure matter more than tuition levels for student success.

Where can students find the best combination of low debt and high earnings?

Iowa State University offers an ideal balance with graduates earning $70,083 while carrying just $19,609 in average debt. North Dakota State provides another strong option with minimal debt loads and a 95.68% acceptance rate, though earnings are lower at $59,417. These Midwest programs consistently produce financially stable graduates without overwhelming debt burdens.

What earning potential can Construction Engineering graduates expect across different regions?

Graduate earnings vary significantly by location, ranging from $59,417 in North Dakota to $82,440 in California markets. West Coast programs like those in California and Oregon typically produce graduates earning above $70,000 annually. Southern and Midwest programs show more moderate ranges, with Alabama graduates averaging $76,460 and Iowa State alumni earning $70,083.

More Construction Engineering Rankings

Cheapest Construction Engineering Construction Engineering Under $20,000

All Construction Engineering Programs All College Rankings Highest-Paying Majors 2026

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