2026 Best Value Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
[Civil Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong civil engineering education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 334 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value civil engineering schools.
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2026 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in the United States
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 Florida this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Students borrow a median of $20,121 to complete the civil engineering program here. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $75,768 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes California State University Fullerton one of the best values for civil engineering. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Students borrow a median of $13,548 to complete the civil engineering program here. Civil Engineering graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $87,800 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in civil engineering will find it at California State University Los Angeles, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,164 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $18,767. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $73,178. Set against $18,767 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Fresno is a great value for students pursuing a degree in civil engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,341, while out-of-state students pay about $19,941. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $15,267. Civil Engineering graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $71,093 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Fresno admits about 95% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes California State University Northridge one of the best values for civil engineering. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,458, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Students borrow a median of $18,732 to complete the civil engineering program here. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $86,091. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
Princeton University placed #6 among the best values for civil engineering. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,688 in tuition and fees. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans. Civil Engineering graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $67,532 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Stanford University landed the #7 spot for civil engineering value this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,910. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $83,740. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California San Diego placed #8 among the best values for civil engineering. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Students borrow a median of $16,400 to complete the civil engineering program here. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $89,543. Set against $16,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Long Beach ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value civil engineering schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,437 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $73,342. That is a strong return on a $16,437 median debt. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida landed the #10 spot for civil engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Students borrow a median of $21,374 to complete the civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $93,343. That is a strong return on a $21,374 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Florida Atlantic University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $23,866 to complete the civil engineering program here. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $83,099. That is a strong return on a $23,866 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value civil engineering schools. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. In-state tuition and fees average $7,781, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $16,500. Civil Engineering graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $75,758 early in their careers. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
California State University Sacramento landed the #13 spot for civil engineering value this year. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,018, with out-of-state students paying around $20,618. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,124 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $87,247. That is a strong return on a $19,124 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Irvine came in at #14 for value in civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,752 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $19,700. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $73,835 early in their careers. Set against $19,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
Florida International University landed the #15 spot for civil engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $66,215. That is a strong return on a $21,250 median debt. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #16 position for value in civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $14,874. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $87,462. That is a strong return on a $14,874 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%.
University Of South Florida Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value civil engineering schools. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $82,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
San Jose State University came in at #18 for value in civil engineering this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,410, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. San Jose State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Florida State University landed the #19 spot for civil engineering value this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,199 in student loans. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $67,050. Set against $23,199 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas placed #20 among the best values for civil engineering. Set in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,748, while out-of-state students pay about $27,411. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $22,763. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Nevada Las Vegas earn a median of $69,629 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,763 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
New Mexico State University Main Campus came in at #21 for value in civil engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,183, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $13,382. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $60,212. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #22 for value in civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,444 to complete the civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $81,415. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #23 among the best values for civil engineering. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,058 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,957 in student loans. Civil Engineering graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $80,401 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #24 spot for civil engineering value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,382 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $80,376. That is a strong return on a $24,382 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of California Berkeley came in at #25 for value in civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $14,392. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $78,142. Set against $14,392 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in civil engineering:
Other Civil Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Civil Engineering rankings across degree levels:
View All Civil Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 334 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 137 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.
