Best Colleges for Civil Engineering

Civil engineering graduates enter a stable field with strong earning potential, with recent graduates averaging $60,166 annually according to federal data. When evaluating the 225 schools that offer civil engineering programs, students should prioritize institutions with ABET accreditation, which ensures programs meet industry standards for curriculum and faculty qualifications. Look for programs that provide hands-on laboratory experience, internship opportunities with construction firms or government agencies, and coursework covering key areas like structural design, transportation systems, and environmental engineering. Strong industry connections and career placement services are also valuable indicators of program quality, as civil engineers typically work closely with government entities and private construction companies throughout their careers.

Schools Ranked

$70,791

Avg. Program Earnings

83.1%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	Santa Clara University Santa Clara, California	$79,473	88.5%	private-nonprofit
2	San Jose State University San Jose, California	$74,845	64.7%	public
3	Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, New Jersey	$74,702	89.9%	private-nonprofit
4	University of Southern California Los Angeles, California	$74,576	92.0%	private-nonprofit
5	George Washington University Washington, District of Columbia	$74,307	85.2%	private-nonprofit
6	Southern Methodist University Dallas, Texas	$73,737	83.3%	private-nonprofit
7	Cornell University Ithaca, New York	$73,321	95.1%	private-nonprofit
8	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, California	$72,645	85.2%	public
9	Rice University Houston, Texas	$71,957	95.7%	private-nonprofit
10	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$71,351	92.9%	public
11	Manhattan College Riverdale, New York	$71,351	66.0%	private-nonprofit
12	University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana	$70,680	96.8%	private-nonprofit
13	California Baptist University Riverside, California	$70,009	59.5%	private-nonprofit
14	California State University-Chico Chico, California	$69,617	63.6%	public
15	University of the Pacific Stockton, California	$68,778	67.8%	private-nonprofit
16	University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, Virginia	$68,666	95.3%	public
17	University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, California	$68,592	92.7%	public
18	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New York	$68,047	83.2%	private-nonprofit
19	Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, California	$67,995	79.8%	private-nonprofit
20	Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls, Oregon	$67,660	59.1%	public
21	Lehigh University Bethlehem, Pennsylvania	$67,660	89.2%	private-nonprofit
22	University of California-Davis Davis, California	$67,516	85.1%	public
23	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin	$67,450	89.3%	public
24	University of Maryland-College Park College Park, Maryland	$67,420	88.6%	public
25	New York University New York, New York	$67,420	88.5%	private-nonprofit