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2027 Best General Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region

36 Colleges in the United States
2,591 General Civil Engineering Degrees Awarded
$70,369 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Civil Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 36 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general civil engineering students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for General Civil Engineering in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general civil engineering education in the Great Lakes Region.

Top Schools in General Civil Engineering

1

No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year for general civil engineering. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 69 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general civil engineering degree from Northwestern University earn around $78,551 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Get the full general civil engineering details for Northwestern University

2

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general civil engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 343 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $76,248. Students borrow a median of $19,054 to complete this degree. Get the full general civil engineering details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

3
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general civil engineering, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 354 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $76,547. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in general civil engineering from Purdue University Main Campus

4

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general civil engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 71 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. General Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $73,722 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general civil engineering from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

5

Students looking for a strong general civil engineering program will find one at University Of Notre Dame, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 51 general civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general civil engineering program make about $74,499 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,100. More information about a degree in general civil engineering from University Of Notre Dame

6

University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best general civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 102 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $78,253. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree. Read more about the general civil engineering program at University Of Wisconsin Madison

7

Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best general civil engineering schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 150 general civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $68,031. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,545 in student loans. See the full general civil engineering program report for Ohio State University Main Campus

8
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best general civil engineering schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. About 81% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 140 general civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $72,048. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full general civil engineering program report for Michigan State University

9

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #9 position for general civil engineering this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 97 general civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general civil engineering program make about $71,377 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500. See the full general civil engineering program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

10

Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology placed #10 among the best general civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 78% of students finish within six years. Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology awarded about 33 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. General Civil Engineering graduates of Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology earn a median of $73,821 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,132 to complete this degree. See the full general civil engineering program report for Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology

11

University Of Dayton ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best general civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 99 general civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Dayton in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general civil engineering program make about $71,411 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,500. More information about a degree in general civil engineering from University Of Dayton

12

Case Western Reserve University placed #12 among the best general civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. Case Western Reserve University graduates 87% of students within six years. Case Western Reserve University awarded about 29 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $74,266. Typical student debt for the program is $25,190. More information about a degree in general civil engineering from Case Western Reserve University

13

Milwaukee School Of Engineering came in at #13 for general civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee School Of Engineering is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 53 general civil engineering degrees were awarded at Milwaukee School Of Engineering in the most recent year. Students who receive their general civil engineering degree from Milwaukee School Of Engineering earn around $72,940 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,667. See the full general civil engineering program report for Milwaukee School Of Engineering

14

University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #14 among the best general civil engineering schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 112 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general civil engineering program make about $74,843 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,382. See the full general civil engineering program report for University Of Illinois At Chicago

15

University Of Southern Indiana ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best general civil engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public university. University Of Southern Indiana graduates 48% of students within six years. University Of Southern Indiana awarded about 14 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general civil engineering program make about $47,216 in their early career. University Of Southern Indiana graduates carry a median of $21,999 in student loans. Get the full general civil engineering details for University Of Southern Indiana

16

Michigan Technological University placed #16 among the best general civil engineering schools. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 94 general civil engineering degrees were awarded at Michigan Technological University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $74,872. Michigan Technological University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. See the full general civil engineering program report for Michigan Technological University

17

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #17 position for general civil engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 87 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. General Civil Engineering graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $67,260 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,275 to complete this degree. Get the full general civil engineering details for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

18

University Of Toledo ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best general civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. University Of Toledo awarded about 48 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general civil engineering degree from University Of Toledo earn around $70,388 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Toledo graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. See the full general civil engineering program report for University Of Toledo

19

Bradley University placed #19 among the best general civil engineering schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Peoria. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Bradley University awarded about 48 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general civil engineering degree from Bradley University earn around $72,573 in the first couple years of their career. Bradley University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in general civil engineering from Bradley University

20

University Of Wisconsin Platteville landed the #20 spot for general civil engineering this year. Set in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 79 general civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Platteville in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Platteville generally make around $69,582. Typical student debt for the program is $23,522. Read more about the general civil engineering program at University Of Wisconsin Platteville

21

Illinois Institute Of Technology earned the #21 position for general civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 general civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. General Civil Engineering graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $75,829 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Get the full general civil engineering details for Illinois Institute Of Technology

22
Marquette University crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI

Marquette University landed the #22 spot for general civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 general civil engineering degrees were awarded at Marquette University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $68,386. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the general civil engineering program at Marquette University

23

Lawrence Technological University landed the #23 spot for general civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Southfield, Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Lawrence Technological University awarded about 25 general civil engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general civil engineering program make about $77,836 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,197. See the full general civil engineering program report for Lawrence Technological University

24

Ohio University Main Campus earned the #24 position for general civil engineering this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 62 general civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general civil engineering degree from Ohio University Main Campus earn around $75,065 in the first couple years of their career. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in general civil engineering from Ohio University Main Campus

25

University Of Akron Main Campus placed #25 among the best general civil engineering schools. This large public university is located in the city of Akron. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 29 general civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Akron Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $66,820. Typical student debt for the program is $21,701. See the full general civil engineering program report for University Of Akron Main Campus

Rest of the Top 36 General Civil Engineering Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general civil engineering ranking:

26
27
28
29
Cedarville University crest
Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH
30
31
Valparaiso University crest
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, IN
32
33
Trine University crest
Trine University
Angola, IN
34
35
36

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 36 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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