College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2024 Best Civil Engineering Bachelor's Degree Schools

237 Colleges in the United States
15,193 Bachelor's Degrees
$60,958 Avg Early-Career Salary
Ranked #35 in popularity, civil engineering is one of the most sought-after bachelor's degree programs in the nation. This makes choosing the right school a hard decision.

College Factual looked at 237 colleges and universities when compiling its 2024 Best Civil Engineering Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 15,193 bachelor's degrees in civil engineering during the 2020-2021 academic year.

What's on this page: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Civil Engineering School for Your Bachelor's Degree

Best Civil Engineering Bachelor's Degree Schools The civil eng bachelor's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality civil eng program can vary widely even among the top schools. When choosing a school we recommend considering some of the following factors:

Quality Overall Is Important

The overall quality of a bachelor's degree school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To take this into account we consider a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

Average Earnings

To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving their bachelor's degree from the school. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue their bachelor's degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.

Other Factors We Consider

The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.

Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for civil engineering students working on their bachelor's degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Civil Eng Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Civil Engineering Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.

Best Schools for Bachelor’s Students to Study Civil Engineering in the United States

Learn about the top ranked colleges and universities for civil engineering students seeking a a bachelor's degree. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Schools for a Bachelor's in Civil Eng

1
27 Annual Graduates
$75,576 Median Starting Salary
$8,125 Median Student Debt

It's hard to beat University of Southern California if you wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.

Civil Engineering bachelor's degree recipients from University of Southern California receive an earnings boost of about $14,618 above the typical income of civil engineering majors.

More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from University of Southern California

1
10 Annual Graduates

It's hard to beat Massachusetts Institute of Technology if you wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. MIT is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge.More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2
150 Annual Graduates
$64,244 Median Starting Salary
$16,101 Median Student Debt

It is difficult to beat University of California - Davis if you wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. UC Davis is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Davis.

Those civil engineering students who get their bachelor's degree from University of California - Davis receive $3,286 more than the typical civil eng student.

More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from University of California - Davis

3
89 Annual Graduates
$69,327 Median Starting Salary
$14,392 Median Student Debt

Any student who is interested in a bachelor's degree in civil engineering has to check out University of California - Berkeley. Located in the midsize city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public university with a very large student population.

Civil Engineering bachelor's degree recipients from University of California - Berkeley receive an earnings boost of around $8,369 above the average income of civil engineering majors.

More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from University of California - Berkeley

4
70 Annual Graduates
$62,929 Median Starting Salary
$19,444 Median Student Debt

It's difficult to beat University of California - Los Angeles if you want to pursue a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. UCLA is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Los Angeles.

Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the civil eng program report average early career earnings of $62,929.

More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from University of California - Los Angeles

5
37 Annual Graduates
$67,169 Median Starting Salary
$20,100 Median Student Debt

Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Notre Dame.

Those civil engineering students who get their bachelor's degree from University of Notre Dame make $6,211 more than the average civil eng graduate.

More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from University of Notre Dame

6
16 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Northwestern University

7
Rice crest
Rice University
Houston, TX
21 Annual Graduates

Located in the large city of Houston, Rice is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Rice University

8
150 Annual Graduates
$65,357 Median Starting Salary
$14,874 Median Student Debt

UW Seattle is a very large public university located in the city of Seattle.

Bachelor's recipients from the civil engineering degree program at University of Washington - Seattle Campus earn $4,399 more than the average college graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from University of Washington - Seattle Campus

9
112 Annual Graduates
$66,586 Median Starting Salary
$22,957 Median Student Debt

Georgia Tech is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta.

Civil Engineering bachelor's degree recipients from Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus earn a boost of around $5,628 over the average income of civil engineering majors.

More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus

10
111 Annual Graduates
$66,167 Median Starting Salary
$23,250 Median Student Debt

UW - Madison is a very large public university located in the large city of Madison.

Bachelor's recipients from the civil engineering program at University of Wisconsin - Madison get $5,209 more than the average college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from University of Wisconsin - Madison

11
238 Annual Graduates
$65,401 Median Starting Salary
$19,500 Median Student Debt

Texas A&M College Station is a very large public university located in the midsize city of College Station.

Those civil engineering students who get their bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University - College Station receive $4,443 more than the typical civil eng grad.

More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Texas A&M University - College Station

12
157 Annual Graduates
$66,084 Median Starting Salary
$19,500 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Those civil engineering students who get their bachelor's degree from Purdue University - Main Campus make $5,126 more than the standard civil eng graduate.

More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Purdue University - Main Campus

13
202 Annual Graduates
$63,590 Median Starting Salary
$19,054 Median Student Debt

UIUC is a fairly large public university located in the city of Champaign.

Those civil engineering students who get their bachelor's degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign earn $2,632 more than the average civil eng grad.

More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

14
34 Annual Graduates
$70,229 Median Starting Salary
$14,903 Median Student Debt

Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University of Virginia is a public university with a very large student population.

Bachelor's recipients from the civil engineering major at University of Virginia - Main Campus get $9,271 more than the standard college graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from University of Virginia - Main Campus

15
172 Annual Graduates
$72,381 Median Starting Salary
$20,424 Median Student Debt

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a very large public university located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo.

Bachelor's recipients from the civil engineering program at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo make $11,423 above the typical graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

16
31 Annual Graduates

Carnegie Mellon is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Pittsburgh.More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Carnegie Mellon University

17
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, NC
15 Annual Graduates

Duke is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Durham.More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Duke University

18
121 Annual Graduates
$64,984 Median Starting Salary
$21,030 Median Student Debt

UT Austin is a very large public university located in the city of Austin.

Those civil engineering students who get their bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin make $4,026 more than the average civil eng graduate.

More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from The University of Texas at Austin

19
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA
240 Annual Graduates
$63,758 Median Starting Salary
$25,760 Median Student Debt

Virginia Tech is a fairly large public school located in the city of Blacksburg.

Those civil engineering students who get their bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech receive $2,800 more than the average civil eng student.

More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Virginia Tech

20

Columbia is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of New York.

Those civil engineering students who get their bachelor's degree from Columbia University in the City of New York make $8,470 more than the average civil eng graduate.

More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Columbia University in the City of New York

21
108 Annual Graduates
$60,478 Median Starting Salary
$16,400 Median Student Debt

Located in the large city of La Jolla, UCSD is a public university with a fairly large student population.

After graduating, civil eng bachelor's recipients usually make around $60,478 in their early careers.

More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from University of California - San Diego

22
73 Annual Graduates
$65,074 Median Starting Salary
$25,000 Median Student Debt

Mines is a medium-sized public school located in the large suburb of Golden.

Civil Engineering bachelor's degree recipients from Colorado School of Mines get an earnings boost of around $4,116 over the typical earnings of civil engineering majors.

More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Colorado School of Mines

23
37 Annual Graduates
$67,621 Median Starting Salary
$12,750 Median Student Debt

Located in the small city of Ithaca, Cornell is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.

Those civil engineering students who get their bachelor's degree from Cornell University receive $6,663 more than the average civil eng grad.

More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Cornell University

24
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
13 Annual Graduates

Located in the large city of Nashville, Vanderbilt is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Vanderbilt University

Rest of the Top Best Civil Engineering Bachelor's Degree Schools

26
27
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
28
29
30
Villanova crest
Villanova University
Villanova, PA
31
32
NYU crest
New York University
New York, NY

33

34
35

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Civil Engineering Bachelor's Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
36 Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA
37 San Diego State University San Diego, CA
38 Clemson University Clemson, SC
39 North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC
40 Northeastern University Boston, MA
41 Iowa State University Ames, IA
42 University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA
43 Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH
44 University of Connecticut Storrs, CT
45 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI
46 Oregon State University Corvallis, OR
47 Rose - Hulman Institute of Technology Terre Haute, IN

Civil Engineering by Region

View the Best Civil Engineering Bachelor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

View All Rankings >

Civil Engineering is one of 41 different types of Engineering programs to choose from.

Civil Eng Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
General Civil Engineering 14,989
Structural Engineering 154
Civil Engineering 27
Trasportation Engineering 21
Water Resources Engineering 2

Majors Similar to Civil Eng

Related Major Annual Graduates
Mechanical Engineering 36,809
Electrical Engineering 17,320
Computer Engineering 12,194
Chemical Engineering 10,172
Biomedical Engineering 8,517
Industrial Engineering 5,876
Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering 5,581
General Engineering 2,652
Environmental Engineering 1,799
Materials Engineering 1,519

Notes and References

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options