2027 Best Value General Civil Engineering Schools in Kentucky

[General Civil Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/general-civil-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general civil engineering education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for general civil engineering students.
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2027 Best Value General Civil Engineering Schools in Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general civil engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Civil Engineering Schools
Leading the list is Murray State University, our #1 best value for general civil engineering in Kentucky. Located in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,900, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,420 to complete the general civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Murray State University generally make around $48,423. That is a strong return on a $23,420 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Kentucky University earned it the #2 place for general civil engineering. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Students borrow a median of $22,100 to complete the general civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $60,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Kentucky University admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Louisville is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general civil engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,136, while out-of-state students pay about $29,482. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $24,503. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Louisville generally make around $67,235. Set against $24,503 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Students looking for strong value in general civil engineering will find it at University Of Kentucky, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Students borrow a median of $23,625 to complete the general civil engineering program here. General Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $68,175 early in their careers. Set against $23,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.