2026 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in District of Columbia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the civil engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Civil Engineering Schools
Leading the list is Catholic University Of America, our #1 best value for civil engineering in District of Columbia. Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,378. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Civil Engineering graduates of Catholic University Of America earn a median of $77,501 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
George Washington University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in civil engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,710. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans. Civil Engineering graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $73,749 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 47% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong civil engineering education at a price that pays off.
