2026 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in civil engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Civil Engineering Schools
For return on investment in civil engineering, no school beat University Of Michigan Ann Arbor this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $73,722 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Wayne State University one of the best values for civil engineering. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Students borrow a median of $30,548 to complete the civil engineering program here. Civil Engineering graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $76,348 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Michigan Technological University one of the best values for civil engineering. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $74,872. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Michigan University earned it the #4 place for civil engineering. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $29,156 in student loans. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $69,706. That is a strong return on a $29,156 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Michigan State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in civil engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the civil engineering program here. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $72,048. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Lawrence Technological University came in at #6 for value in civil engineering this year. Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Southfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,760. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $30,197 in student loans. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $77,836. That is a strong return on a $30,197 median debt. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
[Civil Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
