by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 16 U.S. colleges awarded 208 degrees and certificates in Civil Engineering. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 61% of graduates. College Factual ranks 8 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.
Studying Civil Engineering involves the study of Civil Engineering, Other. Any Instructional Program In Civil Engineering Not Listed Above.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, civil engineering draws strong interest, with 208 degrees awarded annually. 16 colleges award civil engineering degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 51.
By level, the 208 awards include 16 associate degrees, 50 bachelor’s degrees, 127 master’s degrees and 15 doctorates.
Women earned 38% of civil engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (79 of 208). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (97) and Hispanic or Latino (19), and international students earned 61.
College Factual ranks 8 schools in its 2027 Best Civil Engineering Schools ranking, including 7 for bachelor’s degrees, 4 for master’s degrees and 1 for doctorates. It also ranks civil engineering schools within 5 states. In all, 16 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 master’s degree: 127 of the 208 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to 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:
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How long a civil engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 16 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 50 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 127 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 15 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to 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 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 Theoretical Mechanics Teacher, Design Teacher, Aeronautical Engineering Teacher and Engineering Instructor.
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% |
| 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% |
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 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 |
Civil Engineering has 5 similar majors in the Engineering field, which together award 19,648 degrees a year; the largest are Civil Engineering, General (19,082), Structural Engineering (385) and Transportation and Highway Engineering (122). Browse all Engineering majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineering, General | 19,082 |
| Structural Engineering | 385 |
| Transportation and Highway Engineering | 122 |
| Water Resources Engineering | 40 |
| Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering | 19 |
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