2026 Best Civil Engineering Schools in California

Civil Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for civil engineering students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Civil Engineering Schools in California

Best Schools for Civil Engineering in California

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the civil engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Civil Engineering

1

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA

Associate's Degree Highest Degree Type

25 Civil Engineering Degrees Awarded

$83,280 Median Starting Salary

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in civil engineering. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 civil engineering degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Students who receive their civil engineering degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn around $83,280 in the first couple years of their career. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $20,424 in student loans. More information about a degree in civil engineering from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

2

University Of California Davis
Davis, CA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

17 Civil Engineering Degrees Awarded

$81,037 Median Starting Salary

University Of California Davis is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in civil engineering, ranking #2. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 17 civil engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $81,037 early in their careers. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $16,101 in student loans. Get the full civil engineering details for University Of California Davis

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 3 schools evaluated.

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.