by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 316 U.S. colleges awarded 19,856 degrees and certificates in Civil Engineering. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 68% of graduates. College Factual ranks 259 schools in its 2027 Best Civil Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $70,820 one year after completing, rising to $87,870 after four years.
Civil Engineering encompasses anything to do with building. In this major you will learn how to design, plan, and run large building projects, whether that be bridges, buildings, roads, dams, airports, tunnels, and water supply systems. Civil engineers use modern technology to build fascinating projects and help construct the modern world. If you decide to major in civil engineering, you could work on incredible projects such as the English Channel Tunnel or even the Sears Tower.
Courses that you may be required to take could include: bridge engineering, calculus and analytical geometry, geology, physics, materials of construction, construction management, hydraulics, surveying and measuring, earthquake engineering, civil engineering ethics, transportation engineering, and reinforced concrete design.
Some of the concentrations in this major include: Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Structural Engineering, Transportation and Highway Engineering, and Water Resources Engineering.
Studying Civil Engineering explores Civil Engineering.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, civil engineering draws strong interest, with 19,856 degrees awarded annually. 316 colleges award civil engineering degrees, an average of 63 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 376.
By level, the 19,856 awards include 81 associate degrees, 13,597 bachelor’s degrees, 4,963 master’s degrees and 1,215 doctorates.
Women earned 30% of civil engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (5,964 of 19,856). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (9,335) and Hispanic or Latino (3,191), and international students earned 3,660.
College Factual ranks 259 schools in its 2027 Best Civil Engineering Schools ranking, including 3 for associate degrees, 252 for bachelor’s degrees, 134 for master’s degrees and 44 for doctorates. It also ranks civil engineering schools within 52 states. In all, 316 colleges offer civil engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Civil Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common civil engineering credential is the bachelor’s degree: 13,597 of the 19,856 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to civil engineering call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Mathematics and Design, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Did you love playing with Legos when you were younger? This major is idea for innovative problem-solvers who like to take things apart and put them back together. Not only will math and science become part of your daily work, but writing will also be necessary. You need to have good communication skills to explain your work to others, especially to those who are not in your field. You will also learn how to read blueprints and how to work within building codes.
Both in college and in your career as a Civil Engineer, you will work on a lot of team projects. Learn to become a team player, listening to others ideas while at the same time promoting your own vision. You may have to make tough decisions on whether a plan is feasible both regarding safety and finances.
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How long a civil engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 81 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 13,597 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,963 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,215 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to civil engineering, at 39.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 39.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 24.5% |
| Master’s degree | 12.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 7.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 7.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.4% |
| First professional degree | 1.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| Some college courses | 0.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
18 occupations are related to Civil Engineering, with an average median salary of $96,927; the strongest outlook belongs to Solar Energy Systems Engineers, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Engineer, Electrical Engineering Professor, Associate Professor and Applied Mechanics Teacher.
Although you only need a bachelor's degree in order to become a civil engineer, many civil engineers have a master's degree. This is necessary in order to become a job manager as well as obtain a license. Civil Engineers can decide what interests them the most and follow that direction. You can design roller coasters, build bridges, create eight lane highways or erect earthquake-safe buildings. The possibilities are endless.
Civil engineers are needed to help create and maintain the nation's infrastructure like roads, bridges, and dams. As population continues to grow, water systems need to be maintained and civil engineers will play a key part in it all.
The occupation related to civil engineering with the most projected jobs is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,297,204.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Petroleum Engineers | 432,291 | 13.1% |
| Transportation Engineers | 392,941 | 1.1% |
| Water/Wastewater Engineers | 383,114 | 5.6% |
| Nanosystems Engineers | 358,781 | -2.9% |
| Wind Energy Engineers | 353,305 | 12.7% |
| Engineers, All Other | 292,948 | -4.3% |
Civil Engineering graduates earn a median $70,820 one year after completing their program, $87,870 after four years and $88,477 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $70,820 |
| 4 years | $87,870 |
| 5 years | $88,477 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to civil engineering is Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers, with a median salary of $138,303.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $138,303 |
| Petroleum Engineers | $137,336 |
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Transportation Engineers | $120,210 |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | $116,775 |
| Mechatronics Engineers | $115,569 |
| Microsystems Engineers | $104,558 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
Civil Engineering includes 6 concentrations that together award 19,856 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Civil Engineering, General (19,082), Structural Engineering (385) and Civil Engineering, Other (208). It has 40 similar majors in the Engineering field, which together award 183,179 degrees a year; the largest are Mechanical Engineering (43,874), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (27,513) and Computer Engineering (21,335). Browse all Engineering majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineering, General | 19,082 |
| Structural Engineering | 385 |
| Civil Engineering, Other | 208 |
| Transportation and Highway Engineering | 122 |
| Water Resources Engineering | 40 |
| Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering | 19 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 43,874 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 27,513 |
| Computer Engineering | 21,335 |
| Engineering, General | 14,789 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 14,592 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10,559 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 10,170 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8,023 |
| Systems Engineering | 4,489 |
| Engineering, Other | 3,344 |
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