General Civil Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general civil engineering programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 324 schools to find the best for general civil engineering students.
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Choosing a Great General Civil Engineering School
The general civil engineering program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for General Civil Engineering rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
General Civil Engineering Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best General Civil Engineering Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
No school ranked higher than Pennsylvania State University Main Campus this year for general civil engineering. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 199 general civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in general civil engineering from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Stanford University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best general civil engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 215 general civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. General Civil Engineering graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $83,740 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general civil engineering program at Stanford University
University Of California Berkeley is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general civil engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 358 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general civil engineering degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $78,142 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,392 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general civil engineering program at University Of California Berkeley
Johns Hopkins University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general civil engineering schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 53 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $84,850. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
See the full general civil engineering program report for Johns Hopkins University
A rank of #5 makes University Of Southern California one of the top schools for general civil engineering. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. University Of Southern California awarded about 10 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. General Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $88,144 early in their careers. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $8,125 in student loans.
See the full general civil engineering program report for University Of Southern California
Northwestern University earned the #6 position for general civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 79 general civil engineering degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general civil engineering from Northwestern University
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #7 spot for general civil engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 232 general civil engineering degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. General Civil Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $79,334 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,030.
Get the full general civil engineering details for The University Of Texas At Austin
Cornell University earned the #8 position for general civil engineering this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 79 general civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. General Civil Engineering graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $80,811 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,750.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #9 spot for general civil engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 169 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general civil engineering degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $80,410 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,874.
More information about a degree in general civil engineering from University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of California Los Angeles placed #10 among the best general civil engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 179 general civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. General Civil Engineering graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $78,463 early in their careers. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $19,444 in student loans.
Read more about the general civil engineering program at University Of California Los Angeles
Carnegie Mellon University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best general civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 77 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general civil engineering degree from Carnegie Mellon University earn around $89,327 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
See the full general civil engineering program report for Carnegie Mellon University
San Jose State University landed the #12 spot for general civil engineering this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 132 general civil engineering degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in general civil engineering from San Jose State University
Texas A And M University College Station placed #13 among the best general civil engineering schools. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. About 358 general civil engineering degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $76,016. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
See the full general civil engineering program report for Texas A And M University College Station
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #14 among the best general civil engineering schools. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 126 general civil engineering degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Students who receive their general civil engineering degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn around $83,280 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,424 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general civil engineering program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best general civil engineering schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 147 general civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. General Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $76,731 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,437.
Get the full general civil engineering details for University Of Maryland College Park
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #16 among the best general civil engineering schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 146 general civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general civil engineering program make about $88,198 in their early career. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans.
See the full general civil engineering program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York
University Of California Davis came in at #17 for general civil engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 160 general civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general civil engineering degree from University Of California Davis earn around $81,037 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,101 to complete this degree.
See the full general civil engineering program report for University Of California Davis
Vanderbilt University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best general civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 31 general civil engineering degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general civil engineering degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $77,997 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
See the full general civil engineering program report for Vanderbilt University
Duke University placed #19 among the best general civil engineering schools. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. About 97% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 general civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general civil engineering degree from Duke University earn around $83,388 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,296.
More information about a degree in general civil engineering from Duke University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #20 position for general civil engineering this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 327 general civil engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Students who receive their general civil engineering degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $76,248 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,054.
More information about a degree in general civil engineering from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of California Irvine ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best general civil engineering schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. About 99 general civil engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. General Civil Engineering graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $73,835 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,700.
More information about a degree in general civil engineering from University Of California Irvine
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology landed the #22 spot for general civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology awarded about 34 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. General Civil Engineering graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $88,805 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,516.
Get the full general civil engineering details for Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
New York University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best general civil engineering schools. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. New York University awarded about 81 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general civil engineering program make about $82,144 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,905.
Read more about the general civil engineering program at New York University
San Diego State University landed the #24 spot for general civil engineering this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Diego State University awarded about 160 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $79,972. Students borrow a median of $19,832 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general civil engineering from San Diego State University
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #25 for general civil engineering this year. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 285 general civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general civil engineering degree from California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn around $75,758 in the first couple years of their career. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
Read more about the general civil engineering program at California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Rest of the Top 50 General Civil Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general civil engineering ranking:
General Civil Engineering Related Rankings by Major
General Civil Engineering is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 324 schools evaluated.
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).
