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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Civil Engineering Schools in California

22 Colleges in the United States
2,957 Civil Engineering Degrees Awarded
$77,965 Avg Early-Career Salary

Civil Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their civil engineering programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for civil engineering students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Civil Engineering in California

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the civil engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Civil Engineering

1
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

No school ranked higher than Stanford University this year for civil engineering. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 215 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their civil engineering degree from Stanford University earn around $83,740 in the first couple years of their career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Get the full civil engineering details for Stanford University

2

University Of California Berkeley is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in civil engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 358 civil engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $78,142 early in their careers. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $14,392 in student loans. Read more about the civil engineering program at University Of California Berkeley

3

University Of Southern California came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best civil engineering schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 82 civil engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. 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. More information about a degree in civil engineering from University Of Southern California

4

University Of California Los Angeles is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in civil engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 180 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their civil engineering degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $78,463 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,444. Get the full civil engineering details for University Of California Los Angeles

5

San Jose State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best civil engineering schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 132 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the civil engineering program at San Jose State University

6

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #6 spot for civil engineering this year. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 151 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $83,280. Students borrow a median of $20,424 to complete this degree. See the full civil engineering program report for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

7

University Of California San Diego placed #7 among the best civil engineering schools. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. About 166 civil engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $77,511 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,400 to complete this degree. See the full civil engineering program report for University Of California San Diego

8

University Of California Davis landed the #8 spot for civil engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 191 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $81,037 in their early career. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $16,101 in student loans. Read more about the civil engineering program at University Of California Davis

9

University Of California Irvine landed the #9 spot for civil engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Irvine. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Irvine awarded about 99 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $73,835 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,700 to complete this degree. Read more about the civil engineering program at University Of California Irvine

10

San Diego State University earned the #10 position for civil engineering this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 160 civil engineering degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $79,972 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,832 to complete this degree. Read more about the civil engineering program at San Diego State University

11

California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #11 position for 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 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $75,758. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree. Get the full civil engineering details for California State Polytechnic University Pomona

12
Santa Clara University crest
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University earned the #12 position for civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Santa Clara University awarded about 24 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Santa Clara University generally make around $84,883. Typical student debt for the program is $20,144. See the full civil engineering program report for Santa Clara University

13

California State University Sacramento placed #13 among the best civil engineering schools. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 168 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Civil Engineering graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $79,295 early in their careers. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $19,124 in student loans. Read more about the civil engineering program at California State University Sacramento

14

California State University Long Beach came in at #14 for civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 167 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $73,342. Students borrow a median of $16,437 to complete this degree. Get the full civil engineering details for California State University Long Beach

15

California State University Fullerton earned the #15 position for civil engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 112 civil engineering degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Students who receive their civil engineering degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $80,203 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $13,548 in student loans. Get the full civil engineering details for California State University Fullerton

16

California State University Fresno came in at #16 for civil engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. California State University Fresno awarded about 91 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $71,093. Typical student debt for the program is $15,267. See the full civil engineering program report for California State University Fresno

17

California State University Los Angeles landed the #17 spot for civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 97 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $73,178 in their early career. California State University Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $18,767 in student loans. Read more about the civil engineering program at California State University Los Angeles

18

California State University Chico came in at #18 for civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 47 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at California State University Chico in the most recent data year. Civil Engineering graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $72,350 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,583. See the full civil engineering program report for California State University Chico

19

California State University Northridge earned the #19 position for civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. California State University Northridge awarded about 102 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their civil engineering degree from California State University Northridge earn around $74,430 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,732. Read more about the civil engineering program at California State University Northridge

20

San Francisco State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best civil engineering schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. About 50% of students finish within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 66 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Civil Engineering graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $68,256 early in their careers. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $18,873 in student loans. See the full civil engineering program report for San Francisco State University

21

Loyola Marymount University landed the #21 spot for civil engineering this year. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Loyola Marymount University graduates 79% of students within six years. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 29 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $87,790 in their early career. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full civil engineering details for Loyola Marymount University

22

University Of The Pacific came in at #22 for civil engineering this year. University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. University Of The Pacific awarded about 12 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their civil engineering degree from University Of The Pacific earn around $77,022 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in civil engineering from University Of The Pacific

23

California Baptist University came in at #23 for civil engineering this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Riverside. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at California Baptist University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $73,497 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full civil engineering program report for California Baptist University

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 25 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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