by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, civil engineering was the 908th most popular major nationwide with 131 degrees awarded. This is a difference of 15 over the prior year, a growth of 11.5%.
This year's Best Civil Engineering Schools ranking compares 11 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom civil engineering rankings further below.
Civil Engineering majors are found most commonly in careers in which understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is important. Required skills include using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific civil engineering careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Civil Engineering degree levels vary. Civil Engineering programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest civil engineering degree you can get. Depending on the civil engineering degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to civil engineering, with approximately 33.8% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to civil engineering tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 42.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 25.0% |
| Doctoral Degree | 12.8% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 8.6% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 4.7% |
About 57.9% of workers in careers related to civil engineering obtain at least master's degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in civil engineering have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the civil engineering career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your civil engineering degree? Civil Engineering careers are expected to grow 9.2% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to civil engineering.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineers | 335,700 | 10.6% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 190,000 | 5.5% |
| Engineering Professors | 54,600 | 14.7% |
As you might expect, salaries for civil engineering graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for civil engineering graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers civil engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $148,970 |
| Engineering Professors | $113,680 |
| Civil Engineers | $93,720 |
With over 27 different civil engineering degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased civil engineering school rankings to help you with this.
Civil Engineering is one of 5 different types of Civil Engineering programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Civil Engineering | 20,711 |
| Structural Engineering | 332 |
| Trasportation Engineering | 131 |
| Water Resources Engineering | 71 |
| Geoenvironmental Engineering | 12 |
Image Credit: By Master Sgt. Roger Parsons under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
