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2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k

127 Ranked Colleges
1,155 Degrees Awarded
$41,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 21,561 people earned their degree in civil engineering, making the major the 45th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, civil engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $60,122 and had an average of $23,807 in loans still to pay off.

At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,155 civil engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,680 and $116,043 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 127 colleges that offer a degree in civil engineering. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality civil engineering programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the civil engineering program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Civil Engineering Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for doctor’s degree civil eng students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Civil Engineering (Income $30-$48k)

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 36 doctorate’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford also took the #1 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at Stanford University

#2

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s civil eng degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MIT, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Massachusetts Institute of Technology are $56,719, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full MIT Civil Engineering Report

#3

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Civil Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Civil Engineering at Northwestern University

#4

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Princeton University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Princeton, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s civil eng degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

Princeton also took the #3 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Princeton are $56,470.

Read more about Civil Engineering at Princeton

#5

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
#20 in overall quality

Out of the 127 schools in the Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Duke University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Durham, North Carolina, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 7 degrees to qualified doctorate’s civil eng students in 2019-2020.

Duke not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Civil Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Duke are $59,140, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Duke Civil Engineering Report

#6

Rice University

Houston, Texas
#21 in overall quality

Rice University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Houston, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s civil eng degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rice, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rice are $47,913, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at Rice University

#7

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#16 in overall quality

Vanderbilt University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 4 degrees to qualified doctorate’s civil eng students in 2019-2020.

Vanderbilt also made our “Best Civil Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at Vanderbilt are $50,624, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at Vanderbilt University

#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Columbia University in the City of New York is a large private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 8 doctorate’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $51,194, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Columbia University in the City of New York Civil Engineering Report

#9

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#14 in overall quality

Cornell University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s civil eng degrees to qualified students.

Cornell also took the #14 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042.

Read more about Civil Engineering at Cornell

#10

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
#9 in overall quality

Johns Hopkins University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Johns Hopkins University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Baltimore, Maryland. It awarded 4 doctorate’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree civil eng students whose families make $30-$48k list, Johns Hopkins has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Civil Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins are $59,425.

Full Johns Hopkins Civil Engineering Report

#11

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#2 in overall quality

University of Notre Dame came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, and it awarded 16 doctorate’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

Notre Dame also made our “Best Civil Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at Notre Dame are $57,522, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at University of Notre Dame

#12

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 16 doctorate’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Florida are $30,130, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Civil Engineering at UF

#23 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 7 doctorate’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree civil eng students whose families make $30-$48k list, UW - Madison has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Civil Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Civil Engineering Report

#14

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts
#17 in overall quality

Tufts University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Tufts University is a fairly large school located in Medford, Massachusetts that handed out 10 doctorate’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

Tufts also made our “Best Civil Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at Tufts are $55,168, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at Tufts University

#15

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified doctorate’s civil eng students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full U-M Civil Engineering Report

#16

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
Top 25% in overall quality

Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Purdue University - Main Campus is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 34 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Civil Engineering Report

#18 in overall quality

University of Washington - Seattle Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school handed out 20 degrees to qualified doctorate’s civil eng students in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Civil Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Civil Engineering at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

#18

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts

Northeastern University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern are $25,558.

Read more about Civil Engineering at Northeastern University

#19

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s civil eng degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Civil Engineering at University of California - Los Angeles

#20

The City College of New York

New York, New York

The City College of New York did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. The City College of New York is a fairly large school located in New York, New York that handed out 11 doctorate’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The City College of New York are $20,832.

Read more about Civil Engineering at The City College of New York

#24 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 36 doctorate’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Civil Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083.

Read more about Civil Engineering at UIUC

#22

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California

University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 26 doctorate’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also took the #15 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347.

Read more about Civil Engineering at UC Berkeley

#23

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
Top 25% in overall quality

University of Virginia - Main Campus came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Virginia are $32,394, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Civil Engineering at University of Virginia - Main Campus

With a ranking of #24, University of California - Irvine did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 12 doctorate’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UC Irvine Civil Engineering Report

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #25, Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $30-$48k list. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s civil eng degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Georgia Tech, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgia Tech are $31,334, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Civil Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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