2026 Best Value Civil Engineering Schools in Oregon
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in civil engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Civil Engineering Schools
Leading the list is Portland State University, our #1 best value for civil engineering in Oregon. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,118, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering degree recipients from Portland State University generally make around $67,509. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Oregon Institute Of Technology one of the best values for civil engineering. Set in the town of Klamath Falls, Oregon Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,260, with out-of-state students paying around $37,196. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,833 in student loans. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $64,425. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oregon Institute Of Technology admits about 95% of applicants.
Oregon State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in civil engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400, compared with $38,190 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for civil engineering graduates is $25,000. Early-career civil engineering graduates make about $72,358. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
George Fox University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in civil engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Newberg, George Fox University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,320. Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,324 in student loans. Civil Engineering graduates of George Fox University earn a median of $52,898 early in their careers. Set against $25,324 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. George Fox University admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Portland came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value civil engineering schools. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Portland is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $58,100 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the civil engineering program here. Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Portland earn a median of $72,094 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- 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.
[Civil Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
