Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Civil Engineering

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California

19 Ranked Colleges
1,002 Degrees Awarded
$24,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master's in California

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Civil Engineering is the 45th most popular major in the country with 21,561 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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.

Across California, there were 3,291 civil engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $65,300 and $21,468 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,002 civil engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking analyzed 19 colleges that offered a degree in civil engineering. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent civil engineering programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the civil engineering program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Civil Engineering Schools

The civil eng school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to 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 Master’s in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree civil eng students.

Top 19 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Civil Engineering in California

#1

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 79 degrees to qualified masters’s civil eng students in 2019-2020.

UCLA also made our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Civil Engineering at UCLA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - San Diego. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California. This large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 53 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree civil eng students list, UCSD has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - San Diego Civil Engineering Report

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Davis landed the #3 spot on the list. Davis, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s civil eng degrees to 76 students in 2019-2020.

UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Civil Engineering at University of California - Davis

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California list. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 36 masters’s civil eng degrees to qualified students.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo also made our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are $21,009, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Civil Engineering Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California list. UC Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 227 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also took the #3 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Berkeley Civil Engineering Report

University of California - Irvine did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #6. University of California - Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 32 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at UC Irvine

With a ranking of #7, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California list. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 25 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at California State University - Long Beach

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Cal Poly Pomona is located in Pomona, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 masters’s civil eng degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly Pomona, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona are $18,377, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cal Poly Pomona Civil Engineering Report

#17 in overall quality

California State University - Fresno landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 20 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Fresno State Civil Engineering Report

#10

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

With a ranking of #10, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California list. San Jose, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s civil eng degrees to 41 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at San Jose State, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full San Jose State Civil Engineering Report

California State University - Northridge ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California list. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 14 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Northridge are $17,955.

Read more about Civil Engineering at CSUN

#12

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#10 in overall quality

San Diego State University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. San Diego State University is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 21 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658.

Full San Diego State University Civil Engineering Report

California State University - Fullerton came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. California State University - Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 51 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892.

Full California State University - Fullerton Civil Engineering Report

#14

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Loyola Marymount University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s civil eng degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Loyola Marymount, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Marymount University are $19,756, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at Loyola Marymount University

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #15. California State University - Sacramento is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 17 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree civil eng students list, Sac State has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Civil Engineering at Sac State

#16

California Baptist University

Riverside, California
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, California Baptist University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California list. Cal Baptist is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 4 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal Baptist did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Baptist University are $14,140, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Civil Engineering at California Baptist University

With a ranking of #17, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s civil eng degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree civil eng students list, Cal State LA has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cal State LA Civil Engineering Report

#18

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #18, University of Southern California did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California list. USC is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 74 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USC, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Civil Engineering at University of Southern California

#19

Stanford University

Stanford, California

Stanford University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Stanford is a fairly large school located in Stanford, California that handed out 177 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. 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

Switch to a Similar Major

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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.

Credits

Featured Engineering Schools

Find Schools Near You