by our College Data Analytics Team
[Civil Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/other-civil-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for civil engineering students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the civil engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale tops our 2026 list of the best value civil engineering schools in Illinois. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $19,781. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $65,269. Set against $19,781 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
A rank of #2 makes Illinois Institute Of Technology one of the best values for civil engineering. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the civil engineering program here. Civil Engineering graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $75,829 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.