Civil Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 334 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best civil engineering schools.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best civil engineering schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 165 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
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University Of California Berkeley came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best civil engineering schools. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 112 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $78,142 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,392 to complete this degree.
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Texas A And M University College Station is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in civil engineering, ranking #3. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. About 233 civil engineering degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $75,793 in their early career. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
See the full civil engineering program report for Texas A And M University College Station
Students looking for a strong civil engineering program will find one at Cornell University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. Cornell University awarded about 33 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Civil Engineering graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $80,261 early in their careers. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $12,750 in student loans.
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University Of Southern California is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in civil engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 43 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $85,262 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,125.
See the full civil engineering program report for University Of Southern California
Northwestern University came in at #6 for civil engineering this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 civil engineering degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best civil engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 96 civil engineering degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #8 spot for civil engineering this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 151 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $80,673 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,424.
See the full civil engineering program report for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #9 position for civil engineering this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 91 civil engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $75,510 in their early career. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $19,444 in student loans.
See the full civil engineering program report for University Of California Los Angeles
Carnegie Mellon University earned the #10 position for civil engineering this year. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 28 civil engineering degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $89,327 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
See the full civil engineering program report for Carnegie Mellon University
The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best civil engineering schools. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 121 civil engineering degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $75,153. Typical student debt for the program is $21,030.
More information about a degree in civil engineering from The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of California Davis earned the #12 position for civil engineering this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 135 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $75,165. Students borrow a median of $16,101 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in civil engineering from University Of California Davis
Duke University came in at #13 for civil engineering this year. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. About 97% of students finish within six years. Duke University awarded about 14 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their civil engineering degree from Duke University earn around $83,388 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete this degree.
See the full civil engineering program report for Duke University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #14 among the best civil engineering schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 137 civil engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $73,357. Typical student debt for the program is $14,874.
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University Of Maryland College Park earned the #15 position for civil engineering this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 118 civil engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Students who receive their civil engineering degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $76,731 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $21,437 in student loans.
More information about a degree in civil engineering from University Of Maryland College Park
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #16 position for 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%. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 189 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $73,397. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $19,054 in student loans.
See the full civil engineering program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of California Irvine landed the #17 spot for civil engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Irvine. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. University Of California Irvine awarded about 63 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.
See the full civil engineering program report for University Of California Irvine
San Diego State University landed the #18 spot for civil engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 144 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $73,584 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,832 to complete this degree.
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Vanderbilt University landed the #19 spot for civil engineering this year. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 11 civil engineering degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #20 position for civil engineering this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 40 civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their civil engineering degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $74,772 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,903.
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Purdue University Main Campus placed #21 among the best civil engineering schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 155 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Civil Engineering graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $74,369 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of California San Diego landed the #22 spot for civil engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 98 civil engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $65,478. Typical student debt for the program is $16,400.
See the full civil engineering program report for University Of California San Diego
California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #23 position for civil engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 265 civil engineering degrees were awarded at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $75,758. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
Read more about the civil engineering program at California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #24 among the best civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 112 civil engineering degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $75,688 in their early career. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,957 in student loans.
Read more about the civil engineering program at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
University Of Notre Dame came in at #25 for civil engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 60 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent data year. Graduates of the civil engineering program make about $74,499 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,100.
See the full civil engineering program report for University Of Notre Dame
Rest of the Top 50 Civil Engineering Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong civil engineering education:
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 · 334 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).
