2026 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in New York
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
Cuny City College earned the #1 spot for value among civil engineering schools in New York. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,340, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Civil Engineering graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $67,194 early in their careers. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Cuny Laguardia Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value civil engineering schools. Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public school located in the city of Long Island City. Students from in state pay about $5,218 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,098 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $8,858. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $31,437. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art earned it the #3 place for civil engineering. Set in the city of New York, Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,820. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $16,805. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art generally make around $16,678. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome one of the best values for civil engineering. Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Utica. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,625, with out-of-state students paying around $21,215. Students borrow a median of $19,146 to complete the civil engineering program here. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $63,637. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Stony Brook University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value civil engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,741. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $71,856. That is a strong return on a $17,250 median debt. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #6 for value in civil engineering this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $88,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University At Buffalo placed #7 among the best values for civil engineering. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Students borrow a median of $22,913 to complete the civil engineering program here. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $66,207. Set against $22,913 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Manhattan College came in at #8 for value in civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Riverdale, Manhattan College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,400 in tuition and fees. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Manhattan College generally make around $83,321. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Clarkson University landed the #9 spot for civil engineering value this year. Clarkson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Potsdam. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,398. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $70,136. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Cornell University earned the #10 position for value in civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $69,314. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $80,811. That is a strong return on a $12,750 median debt. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute placed #11 among the best values for civil engineering. Set in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,078. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $26,979. Civil Engineering graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of $74,035 early in their careers. Set against $26,979 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits about 64% of applicants.
New York University landed the #12 spot for civil engineering value this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $21,905. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from New York University generally make around $82,144. Set against $21,905 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Hofstra University came in at #13 for value in civil engineering this year. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. Students from in state pay about $57,660 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,848 to complete the civil engineering program here. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $55,705. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Hofstra University admits about 68% of applicants.
Syracuse University placed #14 among the best values for civil engineering. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $74,748. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
