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2026 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in Texas

20 Colleges in the United States
$22,162 Avg Student Debt
$57,824 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Civil Engineering Badge [Civil Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 30 schools to find the best return on investment for civil engineering students.

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2026 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in Texas

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in civil engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Civil Engineering Schools

1

El Paso Community College earned the #1 spot for value among civil engineering schools in Texas. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $8,542. Civil Engineering graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.

2

The University Of Texas Pan American came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value civil engineering schools. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,799, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $54,182. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.

3
Rice University crest
Rice University
Houston, TX

A rank of #3 makes Rice University one of the best values for civil engineering. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $11,904. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.

4

A rank of #4 makes The University Of Texas At El Paso one of the best values for civil engineering. Set in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $16,293. Civil Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of $60,287 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.

5

A rank of #5 makes Texas A And M University Kingsville one of the best values for civil engineering. Located in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,892, while out-of-state students pay about $25,746. Students borrow a median of $24,625 to complete the civil engineering program here. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $66,429. Set against $24,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas A And M University Kingsville admits about 91% of applicants.

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Lamar University crest
Lamar University
Beaumont, TX

Lamar University placed #6 among the best values for civil engineering. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,905, while out-of-state students pay about $18,745. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,988 in student loans. Civil Engineering graduates of Lamar University earn a median of $52,678 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lamar University admits about 86% of applicants.

7

The University Of Texas At San Antonio came in at #7 for value in civil engineering this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,326, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $27,986. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $69,724. Set against $27,986 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.

8

University Of Houston came in at #8 for value in civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the civil engineering program here. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $74,822 early in their careers. Set against $18,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.

9

The University Of Texas At Tyler ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value civil engineering schools. Set in the city of Tyler, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,512, compared with $24,512 for out-of-state students. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,670 in student loans. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $67,671. That is a strong return on a $22,670 median debt. The University Of Texas At Tyler admits about 94% of applicants.

10

The University Of Texas At Arlington earned the #10 position for value in civil engineering 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. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $20,542. Civil Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas At Arlington earn a median of $73,100 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.

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Prairie View A And M University came in at #11 for value in civil engineering this year. Located in the rural area of Prairie View, Prairie View A And M University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,299, with out-of-state students paying around $26,874. Students borrow a median of $29,824 to complete the civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Prairie View A And M University generally make around $63,372. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Prairie View A And M University admits about 79% of applicants.

12

The University Of Texas At Austin placed #12 among the best values for civil engineering. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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.

13

Texas State University San Marcos landed the #13 spot for civil engineering value this year. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $23,659. Civil Engineering graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $47,456 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,659 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.

14

Texas Tech University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value civil engineering schools. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the civil engineering program here. 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. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.

15

Texas Southern University came in at #15 for value in civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Houston, Texas Southern University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,637, while out-of-state students pay about $21,473. Students borrow a median of $35,330 to complete the civil engineering program here. 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. Texas Southern University admits about 97% of applicants.

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Tarleton State University crest
Tarleton State University
Stephenville, TX

Tarleton State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value civil engineering schools. Set in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,302, with out-of-state students paying around $18,142. Students borrow a median of $23,222 to complete the civil engineering program here. Civil Engineering graduates of Tarleton State University earn a median of $50,532 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,222 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.

17

West Texas A And M University came in at #17 for value in civil engineering this year. 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, compared with $10,996 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $22,333. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from West Texas A And M University generally make around $43,515. Set against $22,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. West Texas A And M University admits about 99% of applicants.

18

Texas A And M University College Station placed #18 among the best values for civil engineering. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $19,500. Civil Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $76,016 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.

19

Letourneau University came in at #19 for value in civil engineering this year. Letourneau University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Longview. Students from in state pay about $37,160 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $32,086 to complete the civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Letourneau University generally make around $53,569. That is a strong return on a $32,086 median debt. Letourneau University admits about 38% of applicants.

20

Southern Methodist University earned the #20 position for value in civil engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,040 in tuition and fees. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,712 in student loans. Civil Engineering graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $70,632 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Methodist University admits about 63% of applicants.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 30 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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