by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 307 U.S. colleges awarded 19,082 degrees and certificates in General Civil Engineering. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 70% of graduates. College Factual ranks 256 schools in its 2027 Best General 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.
Studying General Civil Engineering covers Civil Engineering, General. A Program That Generally Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles To The Design, Development And Operational Evaluation Of Structural, Load-Bearing, Material Moving, Transportation, Water Resource, And Material Control Systems; And Environmental Safety Measures.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, general civil engineering is a popular field of study, with 19,082 degrees awarded annually. 307 colleges award general civil engineering degrees, an average of 62 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 376.
By level, the 19,082 awards include 63 associate degrees, 13,336 bachelor’s degrees, 4,506 master’s degrees and 1,177 doctorates.
Women earned 30% of general civil engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (5,711 of 19,082). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (9,049) and Hispanic or Latino (3,072), and international students earned 3,469.
College Factual ranks 256 schools in its 2027 Best General Civil Engineering Schools ranking, including 2 for associate degrees, 249 for bachelor’s degrees, 126 for master’s degrees and 43 for doctorates. It also ranks general civil engineering schools within 52 states. In all, 307 colleges offer general civil engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Civil Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general civil engineering credential is the bachelor’s degree: 13,336 of the 19,082 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general civil engineering call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Design and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a general civil engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 63 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 13,336 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,506 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,177 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general civil engineering, at 37.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 37.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 26.8% |
| Master’s degree | 12.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 8.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.1% |
| First professional degree | 1.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to General Civil Engineering, with an average median salary of $91,612; the strongest outlook belongs to Civil Engineers, at 11.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Machine Design Teacher, Instructor, Engineering Instructor and Automotive Engineering Teacher.
The occupation related to general 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% |
| Transportation Engineers | 392,941 | 1.1% |
| Water/Wastewater Engineers | 383,114 | 5.6% |
| Civil Engineers | 278,890 | 11.7% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
General 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 general civil engineering is Transportation Engineers, with a median salary of $120,210.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Transportation Engineers | $120,210 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Water/Wastewater Engineers | $86,573 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
| Civil Engineers | $72,457 |
General Civil Engineering has 5 similar majors in the Engineering field, which together award 774 degrees a year; the largest are Structural Engineering (385), Civil Engineering, Other (208) and Transportation and Highway Engineering (122). Browse all Engineering majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Structural Engineering | 385 |
| Civil Engineering, Other | 208 |
| Transportation and Highway Engineering | 122 |
| Water Resources Engineering | 40 |
| Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering | 19 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
