2027 Best Value General Civil Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region
[General Civil Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/general-civil-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 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 the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general civil engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Civil Engineering Schools
University Of Missouri Kansas City tops our 2027 list of the best value general civil engineering schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, compared with $32,271 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $24,424. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $70,686. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Dakota State University Main Campus earned it the #2 place for general civil engineering. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,910, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. General Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus generally make around $72,729. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned it the #3 place for general civil engineering. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Students borrow a median of $22,103 to complete the general civil engineering program here. Early-career general civil engineering graduates make about $65,835. That is a strong return on a $22,103 median debt. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general civil engineering will find it at Missouri University Of Science And Technology, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general civil engineering program here. Early-career general civil engineering graduates make about $76,656. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value general civil engineering schools. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,434 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. General Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $70,542. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Kansas placed #6 among the best values for general civil engineering. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,102 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. General Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. General Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $74,472 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
Iowa State University came in at #7 for value in general civil engineering this year. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $25,250. Early-career general civil engineering graduates make about $76,006. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of North Dakota came in at #8 for value in general civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,951, with out-of-state students paying around $15,570. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $26,600. Early-career general civil engineering graduates make about $73,260. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Dakota admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #9 among the best values for general civil engineering. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,608, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $26,044. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $65,175. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Kansas State University earned the #10 position for value in general civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $25,250. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $69,300. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Mankato earned the #11 position for value in general civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete the general civil engineering program here. General Civil Engineering graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $69,861 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants.
South Dakota State University placed #12 among the best values for general civil engineering. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. In-state tuition and fees average $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general civil engineering program here. General Civil Engineering graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $69,129 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #13 spot for general civil engineering value this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. General Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,828 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $69,566. Set against $26,828 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology earned the #14 position for value in general civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Rapid City, South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,500, compared with $14,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $27,388. Early-career general civil engineering graduates make about $71,766. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Iowa came in at #15 for value in general civil engineering this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $70,313. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #16 spot for general civil engineering value this year. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. Students from in state pay about $55,760 in tuition and fees. General Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,586 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus generally make around $65,599. Set against $26,586 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Dordt College earned the #17 position for value in general civil engineering this year. Dordt College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Sioux Center. In-state tuition and fees average $37,050. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $21,812. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Dordt College generally make around $54,926. That is a strong return on a $21,812 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota earned the #18 position for value in general civil engineering this year. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $54,398. General Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans. Early-career general civil engineering graduates make about $65,183. That is a strong return on a $23,923 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
