[Civil Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/civil-engineering-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 160 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for civil engineering technology students.
Finding the Best Value Civil Engineering Technology School for You
The right civil engineering technology school can pay off for years to come. That is why we built our Best Value Civil Engineering Technology Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Civil Engineering Technology Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is Cuny New York City College Of Technology, our #1 best value for civil engineering technology in the United States. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,332, with out-of-state students paying around $15,282. Civil Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $11,492 in student loans. Civil Engineering Technology graduates of Cuny New York City College Of Technology earn a median of $44,323 early in their careers. Set against $11,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in civil engineering technology will find it at Fayetteville Technical Community College, which ranked #2. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,628, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for civil engineering technology graduates is $16,909. Early-career civil engineering technology graduates make about $40,584. Set against $16,909 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Gadsden State Community College one of the best values for civil engineering technology. Gadsden State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gadsden. Students from in state pay about $4,272 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,368. Civil Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $9,312 in student loans. Early-career civil engineering technology graduates make about $34,710. Set against $9,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pellissippi State Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value civil engineering technology schools. Located in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,786, compared with $17,770 for out-of-state students. Civil Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $8,951 in student loans. Civil Engineering Technology graduates of Pellissippi State Community College earn a median of $43,816 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Nassau Community College earned it the #5 place for civil engineering technology. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, with out-of-state students paying around $12,130. Typical student debt for civil engineering technology graduates is $11,850. Early-career civil engineering technology graduates make about $38,734. That is a strong return on a $11,850 median debt.
Horry Georgetown Technical College earned the #6 position for value in civil engineering technology this year. Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Conway. In-state tuition and fees average $5,518, compared with $10,978 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,172 to complete the civil engineering technology program here. Early-career civil engineering technology graduates make about $37,387. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chattahoochee Technical College placed #7 among the best values for civil engineering technology. Set in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,540, compared with $6,108 for out-of-state students. Civil Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $9,616 in student loans. Early-career civil engineering technology graduates make about $44,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lanier Technical College came in at #8 for value in civil engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, Lanier Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,980, compared with $7,190 for out-of-state students. Civil Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $12,278 in student loans. Civil Engineering Technology graduates of Lanier Technical College earn a median of $37,118 early in their careers. Set against $12,278 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Big Sandy Community And Technical College landed the #9 spot for civil engineering technology value this year. Set in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $11,588 to complete the civil engineering technology program here. Civil Engineering Technology graduates of Big Sandy Community And Technical College earn a median of $33,956 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gaston College landed the #10 spot for civil engineering technology value this year. Gaston College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Dallas. In-state tuition and fees average $3,186, while out-of-state students pay about $9,330. Civil Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $10,915 in student loans. Early-career civil engineering technology graduates make about $39,937. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hudson Valley Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value civil engineering technology schools. Set in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,796, compared with $11,852 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for civil engineering technology graduates is $12,868. Early-career civil engineering technology graduates make about $43,989. Set against $12,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cleveland State Community College earned the #12 position for value in civil engineering technology this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,762 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,746. Typical student debt for civil engineering technology graduates is $8,742. Civil Engineering Technology graduates of Cleveland State Community College earn a median of $40,513 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,742 median debt.
Wake Technical Community College came in at #13 for value in civil engineering technology this year. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,254, with out-of-state students paying around $6,862. Typical student debt for civil engineering technology graduates is $17,900. Civil Engineering Technology graduates of Wake Technical Community College earn a median of $38,673 early in their careers. Set against $17,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stark State College landed the #14 spot for civil engineering technology value this year. Stark State College is a large public school located in the suburb of North Canton. Students from in state pay about $4,790 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Civil Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $17,349 in student loans. Civil Engineering Technology graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $42,724 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,349 median debt.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earned the #15 position for value in civil engineering technology this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,517, while out-of-state students pay about $10,044. Civil Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $20,721 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering technology degree recipients from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College generally make around $50,612. That is a strong return on a $20,721 median debt.
Northwest Mississippi Community College came in at #16 for value in civil engineering technology this year. Set in the town of Senatobia, Northwest Mississippi Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,740. Civil Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $9,990 in student loans. Civil Engineering Technology graduates of Northwest Mississippi Community College earn a median of $35,001 early in their careers. Set against $9,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Farmingdale State College came in at #17 for value in civil engineering technology this year. Farmingdale State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Farmingdale. Students from in state pay about $8,626 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,536 for out-of-state students. Civil Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $19,528 in student loans. Civil Engineering Technology graduates of Farmingdale State College earn a median of $50,374 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,528 median debt. Farmingdale State College admits about 63% of applicants.
Sandhills Community College placed #18 among the best values for civil engineering technology. Sandhills Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Pinehurst. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,648 for out-of-state students. Civil Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $9,238 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering technology degree recipients from Sandhills Community College generally make around $46,492. That is a strong return on a $9,238 median debt.
University Of Puerto Rico Ponce placed #19 among the best values for civil engineering technology. Located in the city of Ponce, University Of Puerto Rico Ponce is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,324. Students borrow a median of $5,333 to complete the civil engineering technology program here. Early-career civil engineering technology graduates make about $9,747. That is a strong return on a $5,333 median debt. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
Murray State University came in at #20 for value in civil engineering technology this year. Located in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,900, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the civil engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, civil engineering technology degree recipients from Murray State University generally make around $58,970. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Moraine Park Technical College came in at #21 for value in civil engineering technology this year. Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fond du Lac. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,819, compared with $7,084 for out-of-state students. Civil Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $11,471 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering technology degree recipients from Moraine Park Technical College generally make around $39,552. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny Westchester Community College earned the #22 position for value in civil engineering technology this year. Suny Westchester Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Valhalla. Students from in state pay about $5,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,486 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for civil engineering technology graduates is $8,764. Soon after graduation, civil engineering technology degree recipients from Suny Westchester Community College generally make around $57,520. Set against $8,764 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Milwaukee Area Technical College earned the #23 position for value in civil engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,427 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for civil engineering technology graduates is $18,296. Civil Engineering Technology graduates of Milwaukee Area Technical College earn a median of $38,325 early in their careers. Set against $18,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology placed #24 among the best values for civil engineering technology. Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology is a small public school located in the city of Lancaster. Students from in state pay about $9,050 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for civil engineering technology graduates is $9,915. Early-career civil engineering technology graduates make about $40,859. Set against $9,915 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology admits about 71% of applicants.
South Central College came in at #25 for value in civil engineering technology this year. Set in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,146. Students borrow a median of $13,268 to complete the civil engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, civil engineering technology degree recipients from South Central College generally make around $55,224. Set against $13,268 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 39 Best Value Civil Engineering Technology Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for civil engineering technology this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 160 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 ranked schools only.
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).
[Civil Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/civil-engineering-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
