2026 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in civil engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Civil Engineering Schools
Western Kentucky University earned the #1 spot for value among civil engineering schools in Kentucky. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. In-state tuition and fees average $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,100 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $60,086. Set against $22,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
University Of Kentucky is a great value for students pursuing a degree in civil engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,625 in student loans. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $68,175 early in their careers. Set against $23,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in civil engineering will find it at University Of Louisville, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,136, while out-of-state students pay about $29,482. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $24,503. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Louisville generally make around $67,235. Set against $24,503 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
