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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Civil Engineering

18 Ranked Colleges
131 Degrees Awarded
$37,000 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 131 people earned their degree in civil engineering, making the major the 908th most popular in the United States.

For this year’s “Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major” ranking, we looked at 18 colleges that offer a degree in civil engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular civil engineering programs in the United States.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for civil engineering students.

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major list. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 42 ’s civil engineering degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

2

Out of the 18 schools in the Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach landed the #2 spot on the list. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach is a medium-sized school located in Daytona Beach, Florida that handed out 32 ’s civil engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach

3
Holmes Community College crest
Holmes Community College
Goodman, Mississippi

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Holmes Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major. Holmes Community College is a public institution located in Goodman, Mississippi. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Civil Engineering at Holmes Community College

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major. UW Seattle is a large public school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 9 ’s civil engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Civil Engineering at UW Seattle

5
Notre Dame crest
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana

Out of the 18 schools in the Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Notre Dame landed the #5 spot on the list. Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, Indiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s civil engineering degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Notre Dame Civil Engineering Report

6

With a ranking of #6, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major list. University of California - Davis is a large school located in Davis, California that handed out 7 ’s civil engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at University of California - Davis

7
University of Arizona crest
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #7. University of Arizona is located in Tucson, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s civil engineering degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Civil Engineering at University of Arizona

8
WPI crest
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, Massachusetts

Worcester Polytechnic Institute came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, and it awarded 5 ’s civil engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Civil Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

9

Illinois Institute of Technology landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major ranking. Illinois Tech is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 3 ’s civil engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Illinois Tech Civil Engineering Report

9
University of the District of Columbia crest
University of the District of Columbia
Washington, District of Columbia

University of the District of Columbia did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #9. University of the District of Columbia is located in Washington, District of Columbia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 ’s civil engineering degrees to qualified students.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at University of the District of Columbia

11
Northeastern crest
Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts

Northeastern University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major ranking. Northeastern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 2 ’s civil engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read more about Civil Engineering at Northeastern

12

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 1 ’s civil engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Civil Engineering at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

12
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #12. USC is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 1 ’s civil engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Civil Engineering at University of Southern California

14
Carnegie Mellon crest
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University ranked #14 on this year’s Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major list. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s civil engineering degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Carnegie Mellon Civil Engineering Report

14
UD crest
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware

With a ranking of #14, University of Delaware did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major list. UD is a public institution located in Newark, Delaware. The school has a large population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Civil Engineering at UD

14

With a ranking of #14, University of New Mexico - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major list. University of New Mexico - Main Campus is a large school located in Albuquerque, New Mexico that handed out 0 ’s civil engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Civil Engineering at University of New Mexico - Main Campus

14

William Penn University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #14. William Penn University is a small school located in Oskaloosa, Iowa that handed out 0 ’s civil engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Full William Penn University Civil Engineering Report

14
Western New England crest
Western New England University
Springfield, Massachusetts

Western New England University ranked #14 on this year’s Most Well Attended Civil Engineering Major list. Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 0 diplomas to qualified ’s civil engineering students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Civil Engineering at Western New England

Notes and References

References

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