Cheapest Construction Engineering Colleges

Construction Engineering programs show remarkable affordability at public universities, with costs spanning from $10,011 at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas to $16,334 at North Dakota State University. California State University-Sacramento graduates earn the highest starting salaries at $80,779, while maintaining a net cost of just $10,512. The gap between earnings potential and educational investment creates particularly strong returns for students entering a field where the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8% job growth through 2031. Texas leads with three programs in the top five most affordable options, reflecting the state's massive construction sector driven by population growth and energy infrastructure projects. Graduation rates vary significantly across these programs, from Lamar University's 37.2% to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's 85.2%, suggesting that institutional support systems matter as much as tuition costs. Students can access quality Construction Engineering education for under $17,500 annually while preparing for careers in an industry where experienced professionals often advance to project management roles earning six-figure salaries within a decade.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes California State University-Sacramento stand out among affordable Construction Engineering programs?

Sacramento State delivers the highest graduate earnings at $80,779 while maintaining a net cost of only $10,512. The program boasts a 55.8% graduation rate and accepts 93.2% of applicants. Students graduate with an average debt load of $14,514, creating a favorable debt-to-income ratio for entering professionals.

How do graduation rates compare across the most affordable Construction Engineering programs?

Graduation rates range dramatically from 37.2% at Lamar University to 85.2% at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Purdue University maintains an 83.1% graduation rate at $13,945 net cost, while the University of Utah achieves 63.9% at $13,172. These differences often reflect varying admission standards and student support resources.

Is the earnings difference significant between the highest and lowest paying Construction Engineering programs?

The earnings gap spans $21,362 between California State University-Sacramento at $80,779 and North Dakota State University at $59,417. This difference reflects regional construction markets and cost of living variations. Both programs maintain reasonable debt loads, with Sacramento State averaging $14,514 and North Dakota State at the national average level.

Does acceptance rate correlate with program quality in affordable Construction Engineering schools?

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo accepts only 30.4% of applicants while achieving an 85.2% graduation rate at $15,624 net cost. Conversely, the University of Texas at El Paso accepts 99.9% of students with a 45.9% graduation rate at $10,726. Purdue balances selectivity at 52.7% acceptance with strong outcomes including 83.1% graduation rates.

Where can students find the best value combination of low cost and high graduation rates?

The University of Utah offers strong value at $13,172 net cost with a 63.9% graduation rate and 89.1% acceptance rate. Arizona State University provides similar returns at $13,670 with a 67.8% graduation rate. Both programs balance accessibility with completion rates better than ultra-low-cost options that struggle with student retention.

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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.