2027 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in Texas
[Civil Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools to find the best return on investment for civil engineering students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in Texas
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
For return on investment in civil engineering, no school beat El Paso Community College this year. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete the civil engineering program here. Civil Engineering graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Texas Pan American one of the best values for civil engineering. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $11,000. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $54,182. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lamar University earned it the #3 place for civil engineering. Lamar University is a very large public school located in the city of Beaumont. Students from in state pay about $8,905 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,745. Students borrow a median of $26,988 to complete the civil engineering program here. Civil Engineering graduates of Lamar University earn a median of $52,678 early in their careers. Set against $26,988 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The University Of Texas At El Paso is a great value for students pursuing a degree in civil engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Students borrow a median of $16,293 to complete the civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At El Paso generally make around $60,287. That is a strong return on a $16,293 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in civil engineering will find it at The University Of Texas At San Antonio, which ranked #5. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,326, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,986 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio generally make around $69,724. Set against $27,986 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Rice University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value civil engineering schools. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,247. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $11,904. Civil Engineering graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Texas A And M University Kingsville placed #7 among the best values for civil engineering. Set in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,892 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,746. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $24,625. Civil Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University Kingsville earn a median of $66,429 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,625 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Tyler earned the #8 position for value in civil engineering this year. The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. In-state tuition and fees average $9,512, compared with $24,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $22,670. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Tyler generally make around $67,671. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
The University Of Texas At Arlington landed the #9 spot for civil engineering value this year. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,950 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,582. Students borrow a median of $20,542 to complete the civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Arlington generally make around $73,100. Set against $20,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Houston placed #10 among the best values for civil engineering. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the civil engineering program here. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $74,822. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Angelo State University came in at #11 for value in civil engineering this year. Set in the city of San Angelo, Angelo State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,460, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,241 in student loans. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $56,688. Set against $20,241 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #12 for value in civil engineering this year. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $23,659. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $47,456. Set against $23,659 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University landed the #13 spot for civil engineering value this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $27,000. Civil Engineering graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $74,655 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #14 for value in civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $21,030. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $79,334. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Texas Southern University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Houston, Texas Southern University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,637, compared with $21,473 for out-of-state students. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $35,330 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Texas Southern University generally make around $41,890. That is a strong return on a $35,330 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
West Texas A And M University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value civil engineering schools. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,101, while out-of-state students pay about $10,996. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,333 in student loans. Civil Engineering graduates of West Texas A And M University earn a median of $43,515 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,333 median debt. West Texas A And M University admits about 99% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #17 spot for civil engineering value this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Civil Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $76,016 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
Letourneau University earned the #18 position for value in civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Longview, Letourneau University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,160. Students borrow a median of $32,086 to complete the civil engineering program here. Civil Engineering graduates of Letourneau University earn a median of $53,569 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Methodist University landed the #19 spot for civil engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,040. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete the civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $70,632. Set against $20,712 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
More Civil Engineering Rankings
View All Civil Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
