Cheapest Civil Engineering Colleges in Texas

Rice University stands out dramatically among Texas civil engineering programs, charging $58,128 in tuition yet delivering a net cost of just $12,640 through generous aid packages. This creates an unusual situation where the state's most expensive program becomes the sixth most affordable option. At the other end, UT Rio Grande Valley offers civil engineering for a net cost of $6,500, making it accessible to students from the border region. The earnings gap tells an equally compelling story, with Rice graduates earning $71,957 annually compared to $50,439 at UTRGV. Texas civil engineers find strong demand across the state's major metropolitan areas, particularly in Houston where the massive petrochemical industry and ongoing infrastructure projects create steady employment opportunities. Public universities dominate the affordable options, with 14 of the top 15 schools offering in-state tuition below $12,000. However, graduation rates vary significantly, from 19.9% at Texas Southern to 95.7% at Rice.

Programs

$6,500 – $41,778

Net Price Range

$61,075

Avg. Program Earnings

55.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

20 Civil Engineering Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, Texas	$6,500	$9,859	49.3%	87.7%
2	Texas A & M University-Kingsville Kingsville, Texas	$10,204	$9,892	45.6%	96.6%
3	The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, Texas	$10,726	$9,744	45.9%	99.9%
4	The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, Texas	$11,234	$8,991	51.2%	86.9%
5	Lamar University Beaumont, Texas	$11,429	$8,690	37.2%	83.7%
6	Rice University Houston, Texas	$12,640	$58,128	95.7%	8.7%
7	Angelo State University San Angelo, Texas	$12,915	$8,319	40.7%	79.1%
8	University of Houston Houston, Texas	$13,853	$9,711	64.9%	66.2%
9	The University of Texas at Tyler Tyler, Texas	$13,931	$9,920	46.8%	93.9%
10	Prairie View A & M University Prairie View, Texas	$14,041	$11,299	43.2%	76.1%
11	Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, Texas	$15,137	$9,748	33.7%	88.0%
12	The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, Texas	$15,235	$11,728	56.5%	80.8%
13	The University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas	$19,678	$11,678	87.6%	31.4%
14	Texas Southern University Houston, Texas	$19,734	$9,173	19.9%	96.8%
15	Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas	$20,071	$11,852	67.5%	67.3%
16	Tarleton State University Stephenville, Texas	$20,261	$7,878	51.2%	87.1%
17	West Texas A & M University Canyon, Texas	$20,841	$9,101	47.3%	91.6%
18	Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, Texas	$20,924	$13,099	83.8%	62.7%
19	LeTourneau University Longview, Texas	$25,314	$35,500	61.1%	48.8%
20	Southern Methodist University Dallas, Texas	$41,778	$64,460	83.3%	52.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the huge difference in graduation rates among affordable programs?

Graduation rates range from 19.9% at Texas Southern University to 95.7% at Rice University among the most affordable civil engineering programs. Schools with stronger academic support and higher admission standards, like Rice with an 8.68% acceptance rate, tend to see better completion rates. Public universities with broader access missions, such as UT El Paso with 99.92% acceptance, face different challenges in student retention. The net cost doesn't always correlate with graduation success, as several mid-priced programs achieve solid completion rates.

How does Rice University make their expensive program so affordable?

Rice charges $58,128 in tuition but delivers a net cost of only $12,640 through substantial financial aid packages. The university's large endowment allows them to meet full demonstrated need for most students. This makes Rice more affordable than 9 public universities on the list despite the sticker price difference. Rice graduates also earn $71,957 annually, the highest among all programs, helping justify any debt burden.

What salary differences exist between the cheapest and most expensive programs?

Early career earnings vary by over $21,000 annually among affordable Texas civil engineering programs. Rice graduates earn $71,957 annually while UT Rio Grande Valley graduates start at $50,439. Several public universities fall in between, with University of Houston graduates earning $65,457 and UT San Antonio graduates making $60,771. These differences often reflect regional job markets and industry connections rather than just program cost.

Does student debt load vary significantly among these programs?

Graduate debt ranges from $11,000 at UT Rio Grande Valley to $25,980 at Texas Tech among programs with available data. Most public universities keep debt levels between $16,000 and $26,000 for civil engineering graduates. Schools with lower net costs don't always produce the lowest debt, as factors like living expenses and time to graduation affect total borrowing. Several programs, including Rice and Angelo State, don't report debt figures in this data.

Where do Texas civil engineering graduates find the best job opportunities?

Houston offers the strongest job market for civil engineers with major infrastructure projects and petrochemical industry expansion. The Texas Medical Center's ongoing construction and port development create steady demand for civil engineering expertise. Austin and Dallas also provide strong opportunities in transportation and commercial development. Border regions near programs like UT Rio Grande Valley benefit from international trade infrastructure projects and cross-border development initiatives.

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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.