Cheapest Civil Engineering Colleges in Massachusetts

MIT's $19,813 net price for civil engineering places it just above UMass Lowell at $18,627, creating an unusual situation where America's top engineering school costs nearly the same as a regional public university after financial aid. This price convergence matters in Massachusetts, where civil engineers design infrastructure for Boston's complex transit systems and work on coastal protection projects along the state's 1,500-mile shoreline. The 10 programs here span from UMass Dartmouth's 95% acceptance rate to MIT's selective 4% admission rate, with graduates earning between $49,937 and $66,318 annually.

Programs

$18,627 – $43,273

Net Price Range

$60,783

Avg. Program Earnings

77.5%

Avg. Graduation Rate

10 Civil Engineering Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, Massachusetts	$18,627	$16,570	70.1%	86.0%
2	Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts	$19,813	$60,156	96.1%	4.0%
3	University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth North Dartmouth, Massachusetts	$20,605	$15,208	49.0%	95.5%
4	University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, Massachusetts	$23,691	$17,357	83.2%	63.5%
5	Western New England University Springfield, Massachusetts	$31,170	$46,430	63.9%	88.0%
6	Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts	$32,116	$63,141	90.4%	6.8%
7	Wentworth Institute of Technology Boston, Massachusetts	$34,170	$41,010	68.6%	92.3%
8	Tufts University Medford, Massachusetts	$35,435	$67,844	93.3%	9.7%
9	Merrimack College North Andover, Massachusetts	$37,899	$51,786	72.1%	74.6%
10	Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, Massachusetts	$43,273	$59,070	88.4%	57.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

How does MIT cost nearly the same as UMass Lowell for civil engineering?

Financial aid brings MIT's net price to $19,813 compared to UMass Lowell's $18,627. MIT's generous aid packages make its $60,156 sticker price accessible to middle and lower-income students pursuing civil engineering.

What explains the 32-point graduation rate gap between similar public schools?

UMass Amherst graduates 83% of civil engineering students while UMass Dartmouth graduates just 49%. UMass Amherst's stronger academic support systems and higher admission standards contribute to better retention in this demanding major.

Does Northeastern's co-op program justify its $32,116 cost?

Northeastern graduates earn $66,318, the highest among all 10 programs, and carry just $24,750 in debt. The co-op program provides paid work experience with Massachusetts engineering firms, leading to both higher salaries and job placement rates.

Where do most Massachusetts civil engineering graduates find work?

Boston's transit expansion projects, coastal engineering firms, and the state's infrastructure modernization efforts employ many graduates. The MassDOT and private firms working on the Green Line extension provide entry-level opportunities for new civil engineers.

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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.