2026 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in New Jersey
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
Princeton University tops our 2026 list of the best value civil engineering schools in New Jersey. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,688. 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. That is a strong return on a $10,888 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at New Jersey Institute Of Technology earned it the #2 place for civil engineering. New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Newark. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,974, with out-of-state students paying around $37,664. Students borrow a median of $24,085 to complete the civil engineering program here. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $78,994. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Jersey Institute Of Technology admits about 65% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in civil engineering will find it at Rowan University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,574, while out-of-state students pay about $26,932. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $67,362. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rowan University admits about 78% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Rutgers University New Brunswick one of the best values for civil engineering. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,929, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $26,291. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $75,500. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
The College Of New Jersey is a great value for students pursuing a degree in civil engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. The College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Ewing. Students from in state pay about $19,632 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,752. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $71,649. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Stevens Institute Of Technology landed the #6 spot for civil engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Hoboken, Stevens Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $63,462. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Civil Engineering graduates of Stevens Institute Of Technology earn a median of $78,378 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Stevens Institute Of Technology admits about 48% of applicants.
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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
